Transitioning gestating sows from individual to group housing is a significant welfare improvement requiring careful management of aggression during the transition period.
The transition to group housing represents a genuine welfare improvement for gestating sows despite the short-term aggression risk during group formation. Welfare assessment comparing stable groups to individual housing consistently shows advantages for group-housed sows on behavioral and physiological indicators. The aggression management challenge during transition is real but manageable with appropriate space, ESF systems, and mixing strategies. The long-term welfare benefit to sows freed from individual confinement throughout the 16-week gestation period substantially outweighs the transition welfare cost when managed well.