Sow Welfare in Group Gestation Housing Systems

EU regulations banned gestation crates for pigs in 2013 after the first 4 weeks of pregnancy, requiring group housing. Transition to group housing has welfare benefits but also creates new welfare challenges including aggression and injuries.

Key Facts

EU legislation requires group gestation housing for sows after 4 weeks post-service since 2013
Group housing allows sow locomotion and social behaviour that crates deny
Mixing unfamiliar sows in group housing creates aggression and injuries from fighting
Electronic sow feeding (ESF) systems allow individual feeding in group housing contexts
UK farms have implemented group housing more extensively than some other EU member states

Welfare Considerations

Sows mixed into new groups in gestation housing experience aggression from unfamiliar pigs establishing dominance hierarchies. Injuries from fights include vulva biting, ear damage, and occasionally more severe wounds. Electronic feeding systems reduce feeding competition but require sows to learn system use. Once hierarchies are established, group-housed sows show significantly better welfare indicators than crate-housed sows. The transition period requires careful management to prevent injury during mixing.

What You Can Do

If you farm pigs, minimise the frequency and scale of sow mixing operations
Implement mixing at weaning rather than at service to reduce stress timing overlap
Use boar urine and non-slip flooring to reduce mixing aggression
Support AHDB guidance on group sow housing management
Advocate for farm assurance standards that require welfare monitoring during mixing events