Farrowing crates confine sows completely during birth and nursing, preventing natural maternal behaviors while allegedly reducing piglet crushing, with welfare-positive alternatives now demonstrating viability.
Farrowing crate confinement causes significant welfare harm to sows during one of the physiologically demanding periods of their lives. The inability to turn around, stand and lie without physical restriction, and perform the highly motivated nesting behavior that occurs in the days before farrowing causes measurable frustration and distress. Sows in crates show stereotypic bar-biting and repeated unsuccessful attempts to perform nesting movements. The welfare justification — piglet protection from crushing — is partially valid but overstated, as modern loose farrowing system designs achieve good piglet survival through structural features rather than complete sow confinement. Progress toward farrowing crate alternatives represents one of the most welfare-significant ongoing reform processes in pig production.