Farrowing crates — used to confine sows during birth and nursing — restrict all natural movement but are used to reduce piglet crushing mortality, creating a genuine welfare tradeoff requiring careful evaluation.
Farrowing crate welfare analysis is more nuanced than simple abolition arguments suggest. Sows in crates suffer significant welfare costs from confinement — inability to nest-build during the intense pre-farrowing motivation period, and inability to engage in normal locomotive behavior during weeks of confinement. However, loose farrowing with poorly designed systems can result in significant piglet crushing mortality — a welfare harm of a different kind. The welfare-conscious answer involves investing in well-designed loose farrowing systems that minimize crushing through careful pen design (escape routes, heating zones, sloped flooring) while eliminating the extreme movement restriction of crates. These systems exist and function, but require higher capital investment and management skill.