Farrowing crates confine sows during and after birth to prevent piglet crushing, but cause significant maternal welfare harms that free farrowing systems can substantially reduce.
A sow in a farrowing crate cannot perform the nest-building behavior she is hormonally driven to complete before birth — she may pace, root at the floor, and show extreme frustration for hours as this motivation goes unsatisfied. After farrowing, she cannot turn to investigate her piglets, move away from them when she needs rest, or engage in normal maternal-infant interaction. This represents sustained behavioral frustration over weeks that causes measurable psychological stress. Free farrowing systems that protect piglets without complete maternal confinement demonstrate that protecting piglets does not require sacrificing maternal welfare.