Farrowing crates confine sows during and after birth in spaces too small to turn around. The welfare cost to sows is severe, and alternatives exist that protect piglets without extreme maternal confinement.
Farrowing crate confinement subjects breeding sows to one of the most severe and prolonged welfare compromises in commercial agriculture. A sow that cannot turn around for weeks, that cannot build a nest before giving birth, and that must stand and lie in a fixed position for her entire reproductive life experiences genuine and measurable suffering. The argument that crates are necessary to prevent crushing is undercut by evidence from free farrowing systems that achieve comparable piglet survival through design innovation rather than maternal confinement. The welfare case against farrowing crates is strong, and the policy momentum in Europe reflects this reality.