Farm Animals

Pig Housing Transition: Group Gestation Systems

The global transition away from individual gestation stalls toward group housing for pregnant sows presents management challenges and welfare opportunities.

Key Facts

EU law banned gestation crates for most of pregnancy in 2013, driving European adoption of group housing
Canada, Australia, and several US states have committed to or implemented gestation crate restrictions
Group housing requires careful aggression management, particularly at regrouping
Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems allow individual feed management in group settings

Welfare Considerations

Group gestation housing, when well managed, allows sows to express more natural social and exploratory behaviour than individual confinement allows. However, poorly managed group systems can cause more aggression-related welfare problems than well-managed individual housing. Management quality is determinative.

What You Can Do

Support pork producers demonstrating effective group housing management
Advocate for gestation crate bans in countries where they remain permitted
Engage with research into best-practice group housing management for sows