Farmed Pig Farrowing Systems and Maternal Welfare

The confinement of farrowing sows in crates that prevent turning around during and after birth is one of the most contested welfare practices in commercial pig production.

Key Facts

Farrowing crates are used in approximately 90% of European commercial pig production to reduce piglet crushing mortality
Sows in farrowing crates cannot turn around for the 3-5 week farrowing and nursing period
Piglet mortality from crushing (overlying) averages 5-15% in indoor systems without crates, vs. 3-8% with crates
Sows in crates show stereotypic rooting and nesting behaviors frustrated by crate confinement, particularly before farrowing
Loose farrowing systems with protective structures reduce crushing mortality while allowing sow movement
Denmark has mandated loose farrowing for all new buildings since 2015; the Netherlands is transitioning similarly
Research shows experienced sows in good-condition loose farrowing systems have piglet mortality rates comparable to crates
Fully loose systems require different husbandry skills and management; the transition involves learning curve costs

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crate welfare debates crystallize the tension between individual animal welfare and population-level productivity considerations. The crate prevents sow movement and prevents maternal behavioral expression — nesting, turning, lying gradually — in order to reduce the risk of the sow accidentally crushing piglets. The welfare harm to the sow is real: several weeks of extreme confinement during one of the most physically and behaviorally demanding periods of her life. The welfare benefit — reduced piglet crushing mortality — is also real. The resolution offered by welfare science is not to accept this trade-off as inevitable, but to develop and adopt systems that achieve lower crushing mortality without full confinement. Loose farrowing systems with protective structures have demonstrated that this is achievable with appropriate management. The remaining adoption barriers are economic and cultural rather than technical.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from producers who have committed to phase out farrowing crates in favor of loose farrowing systems
Support corporate commitments and legislative timelines for farrowing crate phase-outs in major pork-producing countries
Advocate for government support programs that help small producers transition to loose farrowing systems
Support research into loose farrowing system design that reliably achieves low crushing mortality alongside good sow welfare