Group housing for gestating sows allows social interaction and movement but requires careful management of aggression to deliver welfare benefits.
Group housing for gestating sows represents a genuine welfare improvement over individual stall confinement, but realizing that improvement requires thoughtful management of group dynamics. The transition period when unfamiliar sows are mixed creates acute aggression risk; stable, long-term social groups avoid this harm. System design — including electronic feeding stations, escape routes, and adequate space per animal — determines whether group housing delivers its welfare potential. The evidence is clear that well-managed group housing provides substantially better welfare than stalls; the challenge is ensuring management quality matches the system's potential.