The transition from gestation housing to farrowing crates is a critical welfare period for sows, requiring careful management to minimise stress and support maternal behaviour.
The gestation-to-farrowing transition is one of the most welfare-significant moments in a pig's life. Sows show strong nesting motivation in the 24-48 hours before farrowing — rooting, carrying material, and building a nest structure. In barren crate systems, this drive cannot be expressed, causing repeated stereotypic rooting on the floor and elevated stress hormones. Providing even a small amount of manipulable substrate (straw, hemp, paper) in the pre-farrowing period significantly reduces agitation and stereotypy. The transition period also exposes sows to novel environments, new pen mates, and handler contact — all stressors that benefit from careful, calm handling. Gradual acclimatisation to farrowing areas and familiar bedding material reduce the cortisol spike associated with movement.