How free farrowing systems are designed to give sows freedom of movement during birth and nursing while maintaining piglet safety and production efficiency.
Farrowing crates are among the most welfare-impactful housing systems in intensive pig production, preventing sows from performing nest-building behavior that is strongly motivationally significant immediately before birth. Frustration of this behavioral drive causes significant distress. Sows in crates cannot turn around, groom themselves properly, or interact naturally with their piglets. Free farrowing systems require thoughtful design with nest areas, heated piglet zones where sows cannot easily step, and sow feeding management, but achieve equivalent or better welfare outcomes for both sow and piglets when properly implemented. As producer experience with free farrowing grows, evidence increasingly shows commercial viability alongside welfare gains.