Gestation crates that confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around have been one of the central focuses of farm animal welfare reform, with significant progress in legislation and corporate commitments.
Gestation crates confine pigs in spaces where the most basic movement - turning around - is impossible for 16 weeks at a time, across multiple pregnancy cycles. Sows cannot express any natural behaviors. The prevalence of stereotypic behaviors indicates chronic frustration and psychological suffering. The corporate commitment wave that followed major retail pressure campaigns in the 2010s represents one of the largest organized animal welfare reforms in history, though implementation timelines have stretched and compliance monitoring remains imperfect. Continued pressure is needed to translate commitments into practice.