Farrowing crates restrict sow movement during and after birth; phasing them out in favour of free farrowing systems improves sow welfare.
Farrowing crates prevent sows from expressing fundamental behaviours - nesting, turning, and moving freely - during one of the most physiologically and psychologically demanding periods of their lives. The frustration of these highly motivated behaviours causes significant welfare costs that persist for the 3-5 weeks of farrowing confinement. Free farrowing systems demonstrate that sow welfare can be dramatically improved without unacceptable piglet mortality increases.