Farrowing crates prevent sows from turning around for weeks at a time, and a global movement toward their phase-out is gathering pace despite industry resistance.
The farrowing crate was developed to reduce piglet crushing deaths by limiting sow movement. The welfare trade-off is significant: sows are highly motivated to build nests before farrowing, and confinement prevents this entirely. Extended confinement also causes physical deterioration, boredom, and repetitive coping behaviours. Loose farrowing systems — including PigSAFE pens and sloped-floor designs — have demonstrated comparable or better piglet survival rates to crates in well-managed conditions. The evidence base for phase-out is strong, and the trajectory is clearly toward crate-free production over coming decades.