Farrowing Crates and Sow Welfare in Pig Production

Farrowing crates confine sows during and after birth, preventing piglet crushing but severely restricting maternal behaviour in ways that cause significant welfare harm.

Key Facts

Farrowing crates confine sows in a space barely larger than their body for 4-6 weeks around farrowing; they cannot turn around.
The primary justification for farrowing crates is reducing piglet crushing mortality, which is a genuine welfare concern.
Sows in crates show high levels of stereotypic behaviour and frustration, particularly during nest-building motivation which cannot be expressed.
Alternative farrowing systems including loose housing and free-farrowing pens allow sow movement while managing crushing risk through careful design.
Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and several other EU countries have committed to phasing out farrowing crates.
Free-farrowing systems designed with sloped floors, piglet protection rails, and appropriate nest materials can achieve comparable piglet mortality to crates.
The EU proposed banning farrowing crates as part of its 2023 animal welfare legislation revision.
Research shows sows in free-farrowing systems show lower stress hormones and more natural maternal behaviour.

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crates represent a classic welfare trade-off that has been used to justify severe restriction of sow welfare: preventing one harm (piglet crushing) by imposing another (weeks of immobility). However, this trade-off is increasingly questioned as well-designed free-farrowing systems demonstrate comparable piglet survival with dramatically better sow welfare. The continued use of farrowing crates reflects the inertia of existing infrastructure and economic risk aversion more than welfare necessity. As free-farrowing alternatives become more refined and economically feasible, the justification for confining sows in crates for weeks diminishes. The phase-out of farrowing crates is both achievable and welfare-imperative.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for legislation banning farrowing crates and requiring free-farrowing systems.
Choose pork certified by schemes that require free-farrowing or loose housing at farrowing.
Encourage food companies to commit to sourcing pork only from crate-free farrowing systems.
Donate to organisations researching and promoting free-farrowing system design improvements.
Advocate for EU and national legislation to phase out farrowing crates on a defined timeline.