Gestation crates confine pregnant sows so tightly they cannot turn around for months at a time. Their phase-out represents one of the most significant farm animal welfare reforms underway globally.
Gestation crates represent one of the most extreme forms of confinement in commercial agriculture. A sow that cannot turn around, lie down comfortably, or take more than a single step forward or backward for the majority of her productive life experiences pervasive physical discomfort and profound behavioural deprivation. The development of stereotypic behaviours including bar-biting and head-weaving in crate-housed sows is a direct indicator of psychological stress from confinement. The transition to group housing is technically achievable — producers in many European countries have operated group systems for decades. The remaining barriers are primarily economic inertia and the transition costs of retrofitting existing facilities, which targeted policy support and supply chain commitments from food companies can help address.