Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in individual stalls too small to turn around. The welfare science case against this practice is among the strongest in all of farm animal welfare.
Gestation crate science is unambiguous: individual stall confinement causes severe chronic suffering. Sows in stalls develop stereotypies within weeks, show elevated cortisol, have weakened bones from immobility, and display depression-like states measurable through cognitive bias testing. The welfare case against gestation crates is as clear as any in animal agriculture. Group housing with appropriate space, enrichment, and feeding management allows sows to express social behavior, move freely, and maintain better physical condition. The transition is commercially achievable — European producers have operated without gestation crates for decades. The pace of voluntary US industry transition has been slower than initial corporate commitments suggested.