The lactation period presents critical welfare challenges for sows, who are confined in farrowing crates and experience physical depletion while nursing large litters.
Sow lactation welfare is compromised by the intersection of genetic selection for maximum productivity and management systems designed for efficiency. Farrowing crates prevent the nest-building that sows perform with great motivation before birth, causing frustration and stereotypic rooting at crate bars. Confinement prevents normal postural adjustments and social behavior. The physiological burden of nursing enormous litters depletes sow body condition to a degree that compromises subsequent reproductive cycles and shortens productive life. Alternative farrowing systems — free-farrowing pens, loose-housed systems with creep areas — reduce welfare harms but require investment and management skill. Several European countries are phasing out permanent crate confinement, reflecting growing recognition that sow welfare cannot be fully protected within crate systems.