Pig Farrowing Behaviour and Nesting Welfare

The frustration of nesting behaviour in sows before farrowing is a significant and well-documented welfare problem in confined pig production systems.

Key Facts

Wild and feral sows spend 12-24 hours gathering nesting material and constructing a nest before farrowing
Sows in farrowing crates show intense nesting behaviour including rooting, pawing, and repeated position changes without material
Providing straw or other nesting material to confined sows before farrowing significantly reduces agitation and distress
Nesting deprivation is associated with prolonged farrowing, increased stillbirth rates, and reduced maternal behaviour
Free farrowing systems allowing nest construction produce calmer sows and better piglet survival outcomes

Welfare Considerations

The inability to perform nesting behaviour before farrowing is among the most acutely distressing welfare failures in conventional pig production. Research using behavioural and physiological measures consistently shows that sows denied nesting materials experience intense frustration in the hours before farrowing. Even small amounts of straw or other manipulable material substantially reduce this distress and improve farrowing outcomes. The welfare case for nesting material provision is clear, yet many intensive systems remain unable to provide it due to slurry-based waste management. Moving to bedded systems or free farrowing represents the most welfare-positive structural solution.

What You Can Do

Choose pork products from farms using free farrowing or loose housing systems with bedding material
Support farm assurance schemes requiring nesting material provision to sows before farrowing
Advocate for regulatory requirements for nesting material as a minimum welfare standard in all pig systems
Engage retailers about their pork supply chain farrowing system standards
Support research into practical nesting material solutions compatible with slurry-based waste management systems