The farrowing environment profoundly affects both sow welfare and piglet survival, with traditional farrowing crates creating significant welfare problems.
Sows in farrowing crates cannot perform nesting behavior, a highly motivated behavior that causes significant frustration when blocked. They experience muscle wastage, joint problems, and pressure sores from prolonged lying on hard floors. Free farrowing systems that allow movement and limited nesting expression significantly improve sow welfare while maintaining commercially acceptable piglet survival rates with appropriate management.