Traditional farrowing crates immobilize sows during and after birth, preventing natural behaviors. Alternative systems aim to improve sow welfare while managing piglet safety.
Farrowing crates represent one of the most significant welfare compromises in industrial pig production, immobilizing highly intelligent, motivated animals during a physiologically and psychologically demanding period. Sows cannot perform nest-building, struggle to adopt comfortable positions, cannot interact naturally with piglets, and experience chronic frustration. The central welfare trade-off is piglet crushing — which crates do reduce — but better-designed free farrowing systems show this risk can be managed. Several European countries have prohibited crates or set phase-out dates, demonstrating that commercial pig production can operate without routine confinement. Consumer demand and retail commitments are the primary drivers of change in countries without legislative bans.