Gestation crates confine pregnant sows so severely they cannot turn around. Phase-out campaigns have achieved significant progress but full elimination remains a distant goal globally.
Gestation crate confinement causes profound, chronic suffering. Sows unable to turn around, take more than one step in any direction, or engage in any natural behaviour — foraging, rooting, social interaction — develop severe welfare problems. Frustration, stereotypic bar-biting, muscle weakness from inactivity, and foot problems from lying on concrete are endemic in crated sows. The evidence that gestation crates cause suffering is overwhelming and accepted by virtually all animal welfare scientists. Group housing systems require more skilled management to prevent aggression and ensure adequate individual feeding, but they unambiguously improve welfare. The gap between corporate commitments and actual implementation — with billions of animals still confined despite announced phase-outs — represents a massive unresolved welfare failure.