Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around. Phase-out efforts have made significant progress in some regions while facing resistance globally.
Gestation crates represent one of the most widely condemned practices in intensive animal agriculture for good reason: they prevent pregnant sows from expressing the most basic movements for months at a time. Sows in crates develop stereotypic behaviors including bar biting and head weaving that are direct indicators of psychological distress. The corporate commitment movement has created meaningful pressure for change in the US and other markets, demonstrating that welfare improvement is achievable when consumer demand provides economic incentive for industry reform.