The welfare of gestating sows — pregnant pigs — has been one of the most contentious areas in farm animal welfare, with the transition from individual gestation stalls to group housing raising both welfare improvements and new management challenges.
The shift from gestation stalls to group housing represents one of the most significant welfare improvements in the pig industry, but it is not without challenges. Mixing aggression causes genuine suffering, and poorly managed group systems can produce worse welfare outcomes than well-managed stall systems for some individuals. Best practice involves keeping groups stable, providing adequate space per sow, using ESF or other systems that prevent competitive exclusion at feeding, and providing enrichment. Farrowing crate confinement — a separate constraint around birth and nursing — remains the next major welfare frontier in the industry. The evidence base for farrowing pen alternatives continues to grow.