Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around for weeks to months, and the transition to group housing systems represents one of the most significant pig welfare reforms currently underway globally.
Gestation crate welfare represents one of the most well-documented and widely recognized welfare problems in commercial agriculture. The scientific case against gestation crates is robust: sows in individual crates cannot perform the locomotor behaviors that are essential to normal pig physiology, cannot engage in social interactions that are natural to a highly social species, and show behavioral indicators of chronic frustration and distress that persist throughout their confinement. The restriction is so severe that it represents a denial of basic freedom of movement for animals whose bodies are designed for extensive ranging and rooting. The business case for transition is also strong: electronic sow feeding systems in group housing can match or exceed the productivity of crate systems for well-managed operations, while responding to consumer and retailer demands for higher-welfare products. The global momentum toward gestation crate elimination represents a meaningful welfare reform driven by a combination of regulation, corporate commitment, and consumer demand.