Farm Animals

Pig Group Housing Transition and Sow Welfare

Gestation stalls confine pregnant sows for months in spaces too small to turn around, and the transition to group housing systems represents a major ongoing welfare improvement globally.

Key Facts

The EU banned gestation stalls for most of the pregnancy period in 2013
An estimated 60-70% of US pigs are still produced in gestation stall systems
Group housing allows sows to walk, turn around, and engage in limited social behavior
Group housing transition requires management changes to address aggression and feeding competition

Welfare Considerations

Gestation stall confinement causes profound frustration in highly motivated, intelligent animals that cannot perform basic movements for months. Sows in stalls develop stereotypies and show elevated stress hormones. The transition to group housing is the most impactful sow welfare improvement available, though it requires careful management of aggression and feeding competition.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from producers certified to gestation stall-free standards
Support companies committed to eliminating gestation stalls from their supply chains
Advocate for gestation stall bans in US states that have not yet enacted them
Urge retailers to require gestation stall-free sourcing from their pork suppliers
Support research into optimal group housing systems that minimize aggression and competition