Pig Gestation Crate Phase-Out: Progress and Resistance

Gestation crates confining pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around have been banned or restricted in many jurisdictions, but their phase-out remains incomplete and contested globally.

Key Facts

Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in metal stalls approximately 60 cm wide and 200 cm long, preventing the animal from turning around for up to 16 weeks of pregnancy
The European Union banned the use of gestation crates beyond the first 4 weeks of pregnancy in 2013, but enforcement across member states has been inconsistent
30 US states and several major food companies including McDonald's, Walmart, and Costco have made commitments to phase out gestation crates from their supply chains
Sows in gestation crates show extremely high rates of stereotypic behaviors including bar biting and sham chewing, indicating severe psychological frustration
Group housing systems for pregnant sows require more space and careful management of aggression during feeding but produce sows with significantly better welfare indicators

Welfare Considerations

Gestation crate welfare science is among the most comprehensive in farmed animal welfare, consistently demonstrating that the physical restriction of crates causes both physical and psychological suffering. Sows in gestation crates cannot express any natural movement behaviors, experience chronic musculoskeletal problems from forced inactivity, and show neurotic stereotypic behaviors at extremely high rates indicating psychological frustration. The scientific case for banning gestation crates is unambiguous. However, transition to group housing requires farm infrastructure investment and management skill improvements for aggression control, creating economic barriers that have slowed adoption even where legally required. Industry and retailer commitments to phase-out have been made and then delayed repeatedly, requiring continued advocacy pressure to maintain momentum.

What You Can Do

Choose pork and pig products from producers that have demonstrably completed the transition to group housing for pregnant sows
Avoid products from producers that have announced but not yet completed gestation crate phase-out by their stated deadline
Support advocacy organizations holding food companies accountable to their gestation crate phase-out commitments
Advocate for your national government to legislate a gestation crate ban if one is not yet in place
Reduce pork consumption as one of the most impactful dietary choices for farmed animal welfare given the scale of gestation crate use globally