Farrowing crates confine sows in spaces too small to turn around during farrowing and lactation, causing severe welfare restriction, and growing producer adoption of alternative systems is demonstrating viable paths to better welfare.
The farrowing crate represents one of the most significant individual welfare compromises in modern animal agriculture. Sows are highly motivated to nest-build before farrowing, and complete frustration of this drive in crates causes intense distress measurable through behaviour and cortisol. The alternative systems being developed and adopted demonstrate that piglet survival can be maintained without immobilising the sow, particularly when producers receive training in observational skills and pen design is optimised. The welfare case for farrowing crate phase-out is scientifically clear; the remaining challenge is providing producers with the knowledge and economic support to transition.