Gestation crates confining pregnant sows individually are one of the most widely condemned practices in farm animal welfare, with phase-outs underway but implementation uneven globally.
Gestation crates cause severe, chronic welfare deprivation - sows cannot turn around, walk, exercise, socialise or perform any natural behaviour for months. The psychological and physical impact of this confinement is well-documented: stereotypic bar-biting, learned helplessness, muscle weakness from inactivity, and behavioural frustration. The welfare science consensus that sow stalls are unacceptable has existed for decades; the challenge is commercial inertia and the cost of transitioning to group housing systems that require higher management skill. Phase-out timelines continue to extend in jurisdictions that have announced transitions without adequate enforcement. Consumer and retailer pressure has driven faster change in supply chains than legislation in many markets.