Gestation stalls confine pregnant sows in spaces barely larger than their bodies for most of their 16-week pregnancies, preventing nearly all natural movement and behavior.
Gestation stall confinement is one of the most widely criticized practices in industrial animal agriculture. Preventing a sow from turning around for most of her productive life — repeated across multiple pregnancies — causes significant physical and psychological suffering. The scientific evidence on harms is clear and has driven legislative change in the EU and some US states, as well as major corporate commitments from food companies. Consumer demand for stall-free pork and corporate accountability for supply chain commitments are the primary drivers of continued progress.