Piglet crushing (overlying) by the sow is a major cause of pre-weaning mortality, and farrowing environment design and management significantly affect crushing rates.
Crushing mortality represents both a welfare failure for the piglets who die and evidence of the welfare compromise inherent in farrowing crate systems. The welfare dilemma is genuine: farrowing crates prevent crushing but severely restrict sow behavior and prevent nest building. Alternative systems that reduce crushing rates without full confinement - through anti-crush rails, appropriate floor design, nest-building opportunities, and supervised farrowing - demonstrate that the trade-off between piglet and sow welfare in farrowing is not fixed. Continued investment in alternative farrowing system design addresses both welfare concerns simultaneously.