Farrowing crates confine sows during birth and nursing. Innovative alternatives are demonstrating that sow and piglet welfare can be improved simultaneously with proper system design.
Farrowing crates represent a clear welfare compromise — sow freedom is severely restricted to reduce piglet mortality from crushing. The welfare case against crates is strong: sows cannot turn around, lie in a natural posture, engage in nest-building, or respond fully to their piglets. The production case for crates — reduced piglet crushing mortality — is real but increasingly addressable through system design. Innovative loose farrowing systems that incorporate physical features preventing crushing (protective rails, heated creep areas, anti-crush bars) demonstrate that sow welfare and piglet survival are not necessarily in conflict. The transition to better farrowing systems requires farmer investment and skills development, supported by policy and market incentives. Consumer demand for higher-welfare pork is the most consistent driver of adoption.