Farrowing crates confine sows around the time of birth, ostensibly to prevent piglet crushing, but cause significant maternal welfare harms that the industry is slowly beginning to address.
Farrowing crates impose severe welfare costs on sows during one of the most physiologically demanding periods of their lives. The inability to build a nest — a behaviour sows will perform for hours in natural settings — causes acute frustration measurable in stress hormones and stereotypic behaviours. Prolonged confinement prevents natural maternal behaviours. The industry justification — piglet crushing prevention — is genuinely valid in poorly designed systems, but well-designed free-farrowing pens with appropriate space and structure achieve comparable mortality rates while dramatically improving sow welfare. The technology exists; the barrier is economic inertia.