Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Gestation Sow Welfare Advances

Gestation sow welfare has improved significantly where group housing with electronic feeding has replaced individual stalls.

Key Facts

Individual gestation stalls prevent sows from turning around or walking
EU banned gestation stalls except during the first 4 weeks of pregnancy in 2013
Group ESF systems with adequate space allow normal movement and social behavior
Sows in group systems show more positive welfare indicators than stall-housed counterparts

Welfare Considerations

The transition from gestation stalls to group housing represents one of the most significant farm animal welfare improvements of the past decade. Stall confinement was an extreme welfare failure preventing all normal movement for months. Group systems restore basic mobility and social expression.

What You Can Do

Support pork from farms with group housing rather than stall systems
Verify that chosen welfare certifications prohibit gestation stall use
Advocate for global phase-out of gestation stall systems
Recognize that welfare-certified pork at slightly higher prices reflects genuine welfare improvement