The farrowing period — when sows give birth and nurse piglets — is among the most welfare-critical phases in pig production, involving pain, confinement stress, and high piglet mortality.
The farrowing period concentrates multiple serious welfare harms in a short time: birthing pain, postural restriction, thwarted nesting behavior, and premature mother-offspring separation. The farrowing crate epitomizes a welfare trade-off that has dominated pig production for decades — reducing piglet mortality at the cost of profound sow suffering. Emerging research and commercial practice in Scandinavia and the Netherlands demonstrates that well-designed loose-farrowing systems can achieve the production goals of crates without the welfare costs. The transition requires investment in facility redesign and stockperson training, but the welfare gains are substantial. Several major retailers have committed to phase out farrowing crates, creating market incentives for adoption.