Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Pig: Gestation Housing Group Welfare

Group housing of gestating sows is required by EU law and is better for sow welfare than individual stalls, but management of aggression is essential.

Key Facts

Individual gestation stalls are prohibited in the EU but permitted in some other countries
Group housing allows sows to perform locomotor and social behaviours prevented in stalls
Introduction of sows into established groups triggers aggression that can cause injury
Electronic sow feeders (ESF) allow individual feeding within group housing
Group size, space allowance, and introduction management determine welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Group housing of gestating sows provides fundamental welfare improvements over stalls by allowing movement, social interaction, and natural behaviour expression. However, poorly managed group housing with insufficient space, inadequate resources, or badly managed introductions can result in serious welfare harm from aggression. The welfare benefit of group housing depends critically on management quality.

What You Can Do

If managing group-housed sows, implement introductions in unfamiliar pens at feeding time
Provide adequate space - minimum 2.25 square metres per sow in groups over 6
Monitor newly introduced sows closely for injury in the first 48 hours
Ensure ESF or fixed-space feeders allow adequate access for all sows
Remove injured sows promptly and treat before reintroduction