Farrowing is a critical welfare event for sows and piglets, with maternal behaviour including nest building and piglet response being essential for survival.
The farrowing process requires natural maternal behaviour including nest building, protection, and communication to achieve the best welfare outcomes for both sow and piglets. Crate confinement suppresses nest building causing significant frustration and prevents the normal spatial relationship between sow and piglets that develops in free farrowing systems. Free farrowing allows full expression of maternal behaviour with appropriate housing design preventing crushing.