Gestation crates confine pregnant sows for most of their pregnancy. They are one of the most severely criticized intensive farming practices and are being phased out in many jurisdictions.
Gestation crate confinement deprives pregnant sows of the ability to turn around, walk, or express any natural behavior for most of their pregnancy — a period lasting approximately 16 weeks per reproductive cycle. The scientific consensus on the welfare harm of this practice is overwhelming. The phase-out has been driven by a combination of regulatory action (EU), corporate commitments responding to consumer pressure (US), and producer recognition that group housing, well-managed, has competitive advantages. Despite progress, gestation crates remain legal and widely used in many US states and internationally. Consumer-driven demand for gestation-crate-free pork remains the primary market lever.