Gestation stalls confine sows individually for most of pregnancy in spaces too small to turn around. Group housing alternatives allow expression of natural social behaviours and represent a major welfare improvement.
Gestation stalls cause profound welfare harm through the chronic frustration of natural movement, social interaction, and exploratory behaviour. Sows in stalls spend most of their pregnancy unable to turn around, let alone walk, forage, or interact normally. This confinement causes stereotypic bar-biting and other behaviours indicative of chronic psychological distress. Group housing with appropriate enrichment, space, and electronic feeding systems resolves most welfare concerns while maintaining comparable reproductive performance. The transition from stalls to group housing represents one of the most significant achievable welfare improvements in pig production.