Farrowing crates confine sows around the time of birth to prevent piglet crushing. While reducing piglet mortality, they cause significant sow welfare problems. Alternatives are increasingly viable.
Farrowing crates represent a genuine welfare dilemma: eliminating them without replacement systems increases piglet mortality, which is also a welfare harm. However, the welfare cost to sows — weeks of complete confinement at a physiologically and behaviourally demanding time — is severe. The inability to nest-build before farrowing is particularly significant: nest-building is so strongly motivated in sows that its prevention causes measurable frustration and distress even when sows are otherwise well-fed and healthy. The research consensus is that well-designed loose farrowing systems can achieve piglet mortality rates comparable to crates when properly managed. The policy question is whether the industry can be supported to make the transition, and what timeline is acceptable given the ongoing welfare cost of continued crate use.