Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around. Reform campaigns have achieved significant corporate commitments, but implementation lags behind promises.
Gestation crates represent one of the most extreme forms of confinement in agriculture: sows spend most of their 114-day pregnancy in a space where they cannot turn around, preventing all natural movement and behaviour. The welfare case against gestation crates is overwhelming — sows show clear signs of frustration, depression-like states, and physical health problems from inactivity. Corporate commitments to eliminate crates have moved the industry, but a significant gap between promises and delivery persists. Effective advocacy tracks company progress against published timelines and applies sustained pressure to laggards. Consumer choices aligned with stated values are most powerful when directed at companies that have made but not fulfilled commitments.