Farm Animals

Sow Nesting Behavior and Farrowing Welfare

Sows are strongly motivated to build nests before farrowing, a behavior frustrated in confinement systems that causes measurable welfare compromise and may affect maternal behavior and piglet outcomes.

Key Facts

Sows in natural conditions spend up to 12 hours collecting nesting material before farrowing
The motivation to nest is hormonally driven and increases in intensity approaching parturition
Sows denied nesting material show elevated stress hormones in the hours before birth
Providing loose straw or paper allows nesting behavior that reduces pre-farrowing cortisol
Nest-building is associated with better maternal behavior and piglet welfare outcomes post-birth

Welfare Considerations

The hormonal drive to nest before farrowing is one of the most powerful behavioral motivations in sows, and its frustration in confinement systems causes distress that can be measured through behavioral and physiological indicators. Providing even modest nesting material significantly reduces pre-farrowing stress and is associated with better maternal bonding and piglet survival.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes requiring nesting material provision for farrowing sows
Advocate for nesting material as a minimum requirement in farrowing welfare standards
Choose pork from farms providing nesting materials for farrowing sows
Donate to organizations working on sow welfare improvement
Engage with food businesses about nesting material requirements in their pork supply chain welfare standards