Pig Gestation Crate Science Update

The scientific evidence base on sow welfare in gestation crates versus group housing systems has continued to evolve, informing ongoing regulatory and industry debates.

Key Facts

Individual sow stalls (gestation crates) are banned in the EU and UK for most of gestation but used in the USA and much of Asia
Sows in individual stalls cannot turn around, lie comfortably, or express most natural behaviours
Group housing systems can cause aggression-related injuries if not managed with appropriate space and resources
Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems allow individual feeding while maintaining group housing
Research consistently shows higher welfare scores for group-housed sows on positive welfare indicators
Some producers report lower reproductive performance in poorly managed group systems, fuelling ongoing industry debate

Welfare Considerations

The science on gestation crate welfare is unambiguous: individually confined sows have severely impaired welfare across multiple dimensions. The welfare benefits of group housing are consistently demonstrated when management is adequate. The remaining debate concerns optimal group housing management, not whether crates are justified - they are not. International pressure to extend gestation crate bans to major producing nations represents an important welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Choose pork from certified higher welfare producers that do not use gestation crates
Support international campaigns to ban gestation crates in countries that still permit them
Advocate for global pork supply chains to exclude gestation-crate produced pork
Reduce pork consumption as a direct way to reduce demand from crate-based production
Engage with retailers about their gestation-crate-free sourcing commitments