The farrowing period is a critical welfare point for both sows and piglets, with the choice of farrowing system having major impacts on natural behaviour and injury prevention.
The farrowing crate creates a fundamental welfare conflict — preventing piglet crushing reduces one welfare harm while imposing another through permanent confinement and prevention of nesting behaviour. Sows confined in farrowing crates show evidence of frustration, reduced muscle condition and impaired mobility. Free farrowing systems that allow nest building and movement require careful design to limit crushing losses. Temporary confinement systems offer a compromise that is increasingly viewed as the transitional solution.