Farm Animals

Farmed Pig Gestating Sow Welfare: Group Housing Transition

The transition from individual stalls to group housing for gestating sows has welfare implications during the adjustment period.

Key Facts

EU law banned individual sow stalls from 4 weeks post-service in 2013
Initial mixing of sows in groups causes aggression until dominance hierarchies establish
Protective features including hiding areas and feeding stalls reduce mixing aggression
Sows in well-managed group housing show better welfare indicators than stall-confined sows

Welfare Considerations

Group housing transition requires careful management to prevent welfare deterioration from mixing aggression. Well-designed systems with adequate space, feeding stalls, and mixing management produce welfare benefits over stall housing. The transition has demonstrated that change is achievable at industry scale.

What You Can Do

Support higher welfare pig standards that go beyond minimum group housing requirements
Advocate for group housing design guidance as part of welfare certification schemes
Choose pork from farms demonstrating welfare-positive group sow housing management