The transition from gestation crates to group sow housing is underway globally. Well-managed group systems deliver dramatically better welfare outcomes, but implementation requires investment and management skill.
Group sow housing is the welfare-positive alternative to gestation crates, but it is not a passive improvement — it requires active management to realise its benefits. Poorly managed groups with inadequate space, insufficient feeding stations, or inappropriate group composition can generate significant aggression and welfare harm. Well-managed systems with adequate space, ESF for individual feeding, appropriate bedding, and stable social groups deliver the dramatically improved welfare that the science promises. The transition globally is underway but uneven — progress is fastest where regulatory requirements, corporate commitments, and consumer awareness align to create consistent market pull for crate-free pork.