Gestation crates confine pregnant sows individually in severe restriction. Economically viable alternatives exist and have been successfully adopted by leading producers.
Gestation crates represent one of the most widely contested practices in modern animal agriculture. The welfare science is unambiguous: pigs in gestation crates cannot turn around, engage in normal social behavior, or perform any of the natural behaviors that strongly motivate them during pregnancy. The psychological and physical welfare compromise is significant and prolonged - sows spend most of their productive lives in these conditions across multiple pregnancies. The industry argument that crates prevent injury is largely contradicted by experience from countries that have successfully banned them while maintaining viable pig industries. Group housing with appropriate management demonstrably meets sow welfare needs while remaining commercially viable. The gap between corporate commitment timelines and implementation suggests the need for consumer and regulatory pressure to accelerate the transition.