Pig Gestation Crate Phase-Out Welfare

Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around, preventing natural behaviour for months at a time. Phase-outs are progressing globally but unevenly across jurisdictions.

Key Facts

Gestation crates are banned in the EU, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and several US states
Approximately 60% of US sow farms still use gestation crates despite some state bans and corporate commitments
Group housing of sows requires careful management to prevent aggression and ensure vulnerable animals receive feed
Corporate commitments from major pork buyers have driven gestation crate phase-outs in some supply chains
Sows in gestation crates show elevated stress hormones, oral stereotypies, and reduced bone density from immobility
Pen gestation systems with electronic sow feeders enable individual feeding while allowing free movement

Welfare Considerations

Gestation crates represent one of the most clearly documented welfare abuses in commercial agriculture. Confining a sow in a space too small to turn around for months causes physical and psychological suffering that is indefensible given available alternatives. The technology for group housing exists and is economically viable; what has been lacking is regulatory requirement and market pressure to drive transition. Progress has been made through both legislation and corporate commitments, but the majority of the world sow population still lives in these conditions. Completing the phase-out globally requires continued legislative action and consumer pressure on remaining holdouts.

What You Can Do

Choose pork products explicitly certified as gestation-crate-free
Ask pork producers and retailers about their gestation crate phase-out timelines
Support legislative campaigns for gestation crate bans in jurisdictions where they remain legal
Write to food companies with outstanding gestation crate commitments requesting updated timelines
Reduce pork consumption or shift entirely to certified higher-welfare sources