Farm Animals

Pig Welfare: Farrowing Crate Alternatives in Practice

Real-world implementation of farrowing crate alternatives reveals welfare trade-offs that research and policy must address together.

Key Facts

Free-farrowing pens in Denmark and Sweden show comparable piglet mortality to crates with experienced stockpeople
Loose-housed farrowing increases sow welfare but requires 2-3 times more daily stockperson labour
Temporary crating during the first 3-5 days post-farrowing offers a compromise adopted in some markets
Consumer demand and retailer commitments are driving faster industry transition than regulation alone

Welfare Considerations

Farrowing crate alternatives are achievable at commercial scale but require significant management skill and stockperson investment. The welfare gains for sows in free-farrowing systems are substantial; piglet welfare outcomes depend heavily on stockperson quality and system design.

What You Can Do

Support pork brands committed to farrowing crate alternatives with realistic implementation timelines
Engage with research on optimising free-farrowing system design for both sow and piglet welfare
Advocate for stockperson training investment to accompany farrowing system reform