Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around. Widespread corporate and legislative commitments to phase them out represent significant welfare progress requiring monitoring and enforcement.
Gestation crate phase-out represents one of the most significant animal welfare campaigns of the past two decades, achieving hundreds of corporate commitments affecting millions of animals. However, commitment does not equal implementation: many companies have missed promised timelines, and verification of supply chain compliance is challenging. Sow welfare in well-designed group housing systems is substantially better than crate housing — sows can move, socialize, and express natural behaviours. The transition requires investment in housing design, electronic feeding technology, and stockperson training; these costs are real but manageable. Consumer and investor pressure remains essential to maintain momentum toward implementation. Policy instruments including Proposition 12 and EU-style regulations provide more reliable welfare protection than voluntary commitments alone.