Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Outdoor Farrowing Systems and Sow Welfare

Outdoor farrowing systems allow sows to express natural nesting behaviour but require careful management for optimal welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Outdoor farrowing huts provide space for nesting behaviour that farrowing crates prevent
Sow motivation to build nests before farrowing is extremely high and denial causes frustration
Outdoor systems carry higher risks from climate extremes, predation and disease transmission
Research shows outdoor-farrowed sows show lower stress indicators than crate-farrowed sows
Labour and management requirements are higher in outdoor farrowing systems

Welfare Considerations

Outdoor farrowing represents a meaningful welfare improvement for sows by allowing nest building and natural maternal behaviour expression. Management challenges are real but are addressed effectively on well-run outdoor and free-range pig farms.

What You Can Do

Choose outdoor-farrowed pork products when labelling allows identification
Support retailers committing to higher proportions of outdoor and free-range pig production
Advocate for research into welfare-optimised outdoor farrowing system designs