The design of farrowing pens profoundly affects the welfare of sows and piglets. Recent research advances guide more welfare-positive pen design.
Farrowing pen design sits at the intersection of sow welfare and piglet welfare, creating inherent trade-offs that require careful research-based design solutions. Crates protect piglets from crushing but severely restrict sow behaviour during a critical and highly motivated period. Free-farrowing systems, when well-designed with appropriate space, escape areas for piglets, and good management, can achieve acceptable piglet survival while dramatically improving sow welfare. The welfare science increasingly supports free-farrowing as achievable and superior overall when management is adequate.