Gilt Group Housing: Welfare Evidence in Commercial Pig Production in 2026

The welfare of replacement gilts in group housing systems before first farrowing significantly influences their long-term productivity and welfare throughout their breeding life.

Key Facts

Gilts raised in individual housing show higher aggression, poorer reproductive performance, and worse welfare when introduced to group systems
Group housing of gilts from weaning or shortly after allows development of appropriate social skills
Electronic sow feeders enable management of individual feeding levels within groups without individual housing
Gilts that have experienced group housing adapt more easily to gestation group housing after first service

Welfare Considerations

Gilt welfare in early life shapes long-term welfare outcomes. Gilts reared individually fail to develop appropriate social skills for group housing, experiencing higher levels of aggression and stress when later introduced to production group systems. Group rearing from early life, with appropriate space and resources, prepares gilts for social housing throughout their breeding life. This early investment in welfare pays dividends across multiple parities — well-socialised gilts have better reproductive performance, longer productive lives, and lower welfare costs from aggression-related injury throughout the breeding cycle.

What You Can Do

Rear replacement gilts in social groups from early life to develop appropriate social behaviour
Provide adequate space and resources to minimise aggression in gilt rearing groups
Introduce gilts to gestation housing systems at appropriate body weight and after appropriate social preparation
Monitor gilt aggression and injury rates as welfare indicators in the introduction to gestation groups