Housing system
Gestation Crate
Sow pregnancy confinement stall
What it is
A metal stall holds a pregnant sow in place for part or all of her pregnancy. She cannot turn around or walk; she is fed and inspected where she stands.
Where it sits in the system
Confining each sow separately lets a farm ration her exactly, watch her without handling her, and stop sows fighting over feed. The confinement is what makes that supervision simple.
Welfare concern
A sow who cannot turn or walk loses nearly every behaviour available to her. Prolonged confinement brings lesions, muscle weakness, frustration, and repetitive stereotypic movement.
Worth being precise about
Crates do simplify feeding and do prevent aggression between sows. Well-designed and well-managed group systems can address those aims too, and they let sows move.
