Gestation crates confine breeding sows individually for weeks or months during pregnancy, preventing movement and causing significant welfare harm that has led to global bans.
Gestation crate welfare science is unambiguous: sows confined for extended periods cannot perform natural behaviours including rooting, foraging, and nest-building. They develop stereotypies at rates approaching 100%, show elevated stress hormones, and demonstrate learned helplessness in behavioural tests. Electronic sow feeders allow group housing with individual feeding management, demonstrating that the production benefits cited for crates can be achieved without their welfare costs.