Gestation crates that confine sows individually throughout pregnancy are being phased out by major retailers and producers, representing a significant farm animal welfare success story still in progress.
Gestation crates confine sows in spaces they cannot turn around in for the majority of their reproductive lives. Sows cannot perform normal movement, social interaction, or investigative behavior. The frustration drives stereotypic behaviors including repetitive bar-biting that affects a majority of crated sows. The welfare case against gestation crates is considered settled in mainstream animal science — the campaign to eliminate them is one of the most significant active farm animal welfare reforms in progress. Progress is real but slow, and continued consumer pressure is essential.