Pig Group Housing for Gestating Sows

The EU ban on gestation crates for pregnant sows has been implemented since 2013, but group housing welfare outcomes vary enormously depending on system design and management quality.

Key Facts

The EU ban on individual confinement of sows during gestation (except the first 4 weeks and last week before farrowing) came into effect in 2013
Group housing reduces stereotypies and improves sow welfare in multiple dimensions compared to gestation crates
However, mixing unfamiliar sows creates aggression that can cause serious injuries if not managed correctly
Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems allow individual feed allocation in group housing, reducing competition and supporting body condition management
Sow welfare in group housing depends critically on group stability - stable groups with consistent membership show far less aggression than frequently mixed groups
Space allowance in group housing significantly affects aggression levels - larger groups with more space per sow show better welfare outcomes
Provision of straw or other rooting material significantly reduces aggression and improves welfare in group-housed sows
UK compliance with group housing requirements is high, but welfare quality within permitted systems varies considerably

Welfare Considerations

The transition from gestation crates to group housing was a genuine welfare improvement, but group housing is not automatically good welfare. Poorly designed or managed group housing can expose sows to high levels of aggression, resource competition, and injury that exceed the welfare costs of crates. The welfare opportunity of group housing is only fully realised when space, enrichment, feeding management, and group stability are all addressed. ESF systems that provide individual feeding without competition, combined with stable social groups and adequate rooting material, represent the best current welfare outcome for gestating sows. The welfare goal should be group housing that is not just legally compliant but genuinely provides better welfare than individual crates.

What You Can Do

Support pork producers using ESF systems with stable groups and rooting material provision
Choose pork from certified welfare schemes that specify group housing quality beyond minimum compliance
Advocate for welfare standards to include positive indicators (play, exploration, social behaviour) alongside negative indicators
Support research into optimal group sizes, space allowances, and enrichment for gestating sow welfare
Engage with food retailers to strengthen sow housing requirements beyond minimum EU compliance
Reduce pork consumption and shift to highest welfare certified alternatives