The global transition away from gestation crates for sows represents one of the most significant farm animal welfare improvements underway, with ongoing implementation challenges and opportunities.
Gestation crate elimination represents genuine welfare progress, but the transition to group housing is not automatically a welfare improvement — poorly designed or managed group systems can result in significant aggression-related injuries. Successful welfare-positive group housing requires appropriate space allowances, stable social groupings, effective feeding systems that minimize competition, enrichment to reduce aggression, and stockpeople trained in group sow management. The global transition toward crate-free systems demonstrates that coordinated pressure from retailers, consumers, and legislation can drive systemic change in farm animal welfare at scale — a model being applied to other welfare reforms.