Farm Pig Gestation Crate Welfare

Gestation crates confine pregnant sows for most of their lives in spaces so small they cannot turn around, causing profound physical and psychological suffering.

Key Facts

Gestation crates are metal stalls approximately 2 by 0.6 meters for a 150 kg sow
Sows spend 114 days of each pregnancy confined unable to turn around or socialize
The EU banned gestation crates for most of pregnancy in 2013, requiring group housing
Many US states have banned gestation crates but federal standards remain absent
Sows in crates develop stereotyped behaviors like bar-biting indicating severe frustration
Leg weakness and muscle atrophy result from confinement and inability to exercise
Group housing with proper management shows equivalent or better productivity outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Gestation crates represent one of the most clearly documented cases of systematic animal suffering in agriculture. The complete restriction of movement for an intelligent, social animal creates chronic physical pain from muscle atrophy and leg problems, and psychological suffering manifest in repetitive frustrated behaviors. The scientific consensus is unambiguous that gestation crates cause significant and unnecessary suffering. The transition to group housing, while requiring management investment, demonstrates that welfare and productivity need not be in conflict.

What You Can Do

Choose pork products certified as gestation-crate-free
Support US federal legislation banning gestation crates
Ask retailers and restaurants about their pork supplier crate-free commitments
Reduce or eliminate pork consumption from unlabeled conventional sources
Support the Humane Society campaigns working on gestation crate legislation
Share information about gestation crates to increase public awareness and demand for reform