Extreme Confinement in Farrowing Crates

Farrowing crates and temporary crates are cages used to confine pregnant pigs (sows) for up to 4-5 weeks before, during, and after giving birth. They consist of metal bars and concrete floors and are barely bigger than the animal’s body. They are so cruel, it is time they were banned.

Astonishingly, the pork industry asks us to believe that locking pregnant animals inside cages where they can’t even turn around supports higher welfare because the cages prevent the sows from laying on their piglets. However, giving sows enough room and the right conditions addresses this issue.

Inside those cages, sows bite the bars , which is a clear sign of emotional distress and some go through the motions of making a nest, even though they have nothing to make a nest with. Many suffer pressure wounds from lying on hard concrete for weeks at a time.

There is no excuse for caging pigs. But the industry continues anyway as it is cheaper and more convenient to lock animals in cages than to give them a life worth living.