Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Gestation Crate Transition Progress

Gestation crate phase-outs are progressing globally but unevenly. Understanding where progress has been made and where gaps remain informs effective advocacy.

Key Facts

EU gestation crates must be open housing for most of gestation since 2013 - partial improvement
US gestation crate phase-outs have been adopted by major pork buyers including McDonald's and Walmart
Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have industry commitments to phase out gestation crates
Transition requires significant capital investment in group housing systems and management changes
Some producers cite welfare challenges with group housing as a barrier to transition

Welfare Considerations

Gestation crate transition represents one of the largest farm animal welfare campaigns of the past two decades. Progress has been real but incomplete - the EU partial phase-out still permits individual confinement for mating and early gestation; US voluntary commitments have been slower to translate to actual practice than announced. Continued pressure through purchasing, policy, and advocacy is needed to complete the transition.

What You Can Do

Choose pork certified as gestation-crate-free with third-party auditing
Advocate for complete EU gestation crate bans covering mating and early gestation periods
Support US state ballot initiatives requiring gestation crate-free pork
Urge food companies that have made commitments to publish timelines and progress toward fulfillment