Gestation crates confining pregnant sows are banned in many countries due to severe welfare impacts; alternatives demonstrate that good welfare and commercial production are compatible.
Gestation crate confinement prevents sows from performing any natural behaviours including turning around, foraging, and social interaction. Chronic frustration manifests as stereotypic bar-biting and severe lameness from standing on concrete without movement. Sows in crates show higher cortisol, suppressed immune function, and more abnormal behaviours than group-housed animals. Group housing systems require investment in management expertise and appropriate pen design, but welfare outcomes are substantially better. The transition away from gestation crates in many major producing countries demonstrates that welfare reform at commercial scale is achievable.