Pig Farrowing Crate Reform | Animal Welfare Hub

Farrowing crates — metal cages that confine sows during and after birth — are one of the most contested practices in pig farming, preventing sows from expressing natural maternal behaviour.

Key Facts

Farrowing crates confine sows in a space so small they cannot turn around during farrowing and lactation — typically 3–6 weeks per birth cycle
The crates were introduced to reduce piglet crushing deaths — sows in crates cannot inadvertently lie on piglets
Sows in farrowing crates show frustrated nest-building behaviour — repeatedly rooting at bare floors hours before birth
Confined sows cannot respond to their piglets' vocalisations by position change or approach — maternal behaviour is severely curtailed
Free farrowing systems — including purpose-designed pens with piglet protection rails — can achieve comparable or lower crushing rates to crates in well-managed systems
Sweden, Norway, Switzerland, and Austria have banned or severely restricted farrowing crates — demonstrating that alternatives are commercially viable
The UK announced a phased ban on farrowing crates with a target end date of 2040 — campaigners argue this timeline is too slow

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crates cause significant suffering. The inability to turn around for weeks at a time causes physical discomfort and postural fatigue. The frustration of nest-building behaviour — a powerful instinct in sows — is expressed through repetitive, futile rooting on bare floors. The inability to respond to piglets physically constrains the sow-piglet bond. These welfare costs must be weighed against the genuine risk of piglet crushing — but the evidence from countries that have banned crates shows that well-designed free farrowing systems can address both concerns. The persistence of farrowing crates in most pig-producing countries reflects economic inertia rather than the absence of viable alternatives.

What You Can Do

Choose pork and bacon certified by RSPCA Assured, Soil Association, or equivalent schemes that prohibit or strictly time-limit crate use
Support Compassion in World Farming, Humane Society International, and Open Cages in their farrowing crate campaigns
Ask retailers and food service companies about their pig welfare policies — specifically farrowing crate use
Advocate for national legislation to ban farrowing crates with a timeline significantly shorter than 2040
Support farmers transitioning to free farrowing by choosing their certified products and paying any welfare premium
Reduce overall pork consumption where high-welfare alternatives are unavailable
Share information about farrowing crates with others — consumer awareness is the primary lever for industry reform