Alternatives to conventional farrowing crates are being developed and adopted that aim to provide sow welfare through freedom of movement while managing the piglet crushing risk that justifies crate use.
Farrowing system welfare involves genuine trade-offs between sow behavioral welfare and piglet survival. Conventional crates prioritize piglet survival through physical restriction at the significant cost of denying sows fundamental behavioral freedoms. Alternative systems that allow some movement improve sow welfare but require careful design and management to avoid increased piglet mortality. The welfare debate around farrowing systems must honestly acknowledge both sides of this trade-off. Political and commercial pressure to ban crates without supporting transition to viable alternatives risks replacing one welfare problem with another.