Maternal Behavior and Piglet Survival on Enriched Farms

Providing nesting material and space to sows dramatically improves maternal behavior and reduces piglet crushing deaths.

Key Facts

Piglet crushing by the sow causes up to 40% of pre-weaning losses in intensive pig farming
Crated farrowing systems restrict sow movement to prevent crushing but cause severe behavioral frustration
Sows in enriched systems with nesting material build nests, show better maternal behavior, and have lower crushing rates
Research shows that free-farrowing pens with appropriate design reduce crushing without increasing mortality
Several European countries are phasing out farrowing crates for enriched alternatives by 2035

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crates prevent the sow from expressing fundamental maternal behaviors including nest building and postural flexibility. The behavioral frustration caused by crate confinement is extreme — sows confined in crates show persistent rooting and pawing that can last hours. Enriched free-farrowing systems show that both sow and piglet welfare can be improved simultaneously.

What You Can Do

Support retailers that have committed to eliminating farrowing crate pork from supply chains
Choose pork certified under the RSPCA Assured or equivalent welfare standard requiring enriched farrowing
Advocate for national legislation phasing out conventional farrowing crates within a defined timeline