Gestation crates confine pregnant sows in spaces too small to turn around. The phase-out of this system is a major ongoing welfare policy battle with significant animal welfare consequences.
Gestation crate confinement causes profound welfare harm through behavioral deprivation. Pigs are intelligent, active animals that in natural conditions travel several kilometers daily, engage in extensive rooting and foraging, and maintain complex social relationships. Confinement in a space so small they cannot turn around for months at a time is a fundamental violation of their behavioral needs. Research documents higher stress hormone levels, bone mineral loss from inactivity, and stereotypic behaviors in crated sows. The transition to group housing, while requiring careful management, consistently produces better welfare outcomes for sows by enabling movement, social behavior, and behavioral expression. The moral case for eliminating gestation crates is strong and well-supported by evidence.