Farmed Pig Gestation Crate Phase-Out Progress

Gestation crates that confine pregnant sows in individual stalls prevent natural behavior and are being phased out following welfare campaigns.

Key Facts

Gestation crates confine sows individually for most of their 16-week pregnancy in stalls too small to turn
Sows in gestation crates cannot perform natural behaviors including foraging, rooting, and social interaction
Stereotypic bar-biting occurs in a significant percentage of crated sows indicating frustration
European Union banned gestation crates from 2013 except for the first 4 weeks of pregnancy
Several U.S. states have passed bans and major food companies have made cage-free pork pledges
Group housing of sows requires careful management of aggression around feeding
Welfare assessments consistently show improved behavioral welfare in group-housed compared to crated sows

Welfare Considerations

Gestation crates cause profound chronic welfare deficits. Sows experience extreme behavioral frustration from being physically prevented from performing basic motivation-driven behaviors like turning around, rooting, and social grooming. The duration of confinement - most of the 16-week pregnancy - means this is not brief handling but a fundamental restriction of welfare over months. Bar-biting stereotypies represent the externally visible symptom of chronic psychological distress.

What You Can Do

Support gestation crate phase-out pledges by food companies and hold them accountable to timelines
Choose pork certified as gestation-crate-free from verified higher-welfare producers
Advocate for U.S. federal legislation banning gestation crates similar to European regulations
Support farmers transitioning to group housing systems through market incentives and technical assistance
Engage supermarkets and food service companies on implementing and reporting gestation crate phase-out commitments
Reduce pork consumption as market demand reduction accelerates industry welfare transitions