Gestation stalls confine pregnant sows in individual spaces too small to turn around. Despite growing bans and corporate commitments, the transition to group housing has been slower than promised.
Gestation stall welfare is one of the most comprehensively studied farm animal welfare issues, with consistent evidence that individual confinement causes significant suffering. Sows in stalls show higher rates of stereotypic behaviors, learned helplessness indicators, and stress physiology compared to group-housed animals. The welfare case for elimination is scientifically robust. The implementation challenge has proven greater than optimistic corporate timelines suggested - group housing requires significant capital investment and management expertise to prevent social aggression. Consumer and retailer pressure through binding, time-bound purchasing commitments with financial consequences for non-compliance has proven more effective than voluntary pledges.