Gestation crates — individual metal stalls used to confine pregnant sows — have been banned or pledged to be phased out by major retailers and in many jurisdictions, but implementation remains incomplete and contested.
Sows in gestation crates are unable to turn around for months at a time. The physical restriction prevents expression of virtually all natural behaviors: rooting, nest-building, social interaction, and normal locomotion. Sow lameness, pressure sores, and cardiovascular fitness decline are measurable consequences of long-term confinement. Stereotypic behaviors including bar-biting are common and indicate chronic frustration. The scientific consensus on the welfare harms of gestation crates is robust and has driven legislative bans and corporate commitments worldwide. The main current welfare challenge is closing the gap between pledges and actual implementation — many sows remain in gestation crates in facilities that have made phase-out commitments but not followed through.