Gestation Crates
The connotations of being a mother are universal in that they represent commitment, loyalty, and unconditional love. Motherhood is probably the most rewarding of all pursuits, as procreation is considered the purpose of humanity. That is… unless you’re a sow. Then you might squish your piglets.
Why Gestation Crates?
Motherhood in domesticated swine is regarded quite differently, and a certain degree of human intervention must be taken to insure the well-being of both the sow, or a female pig that has given birth, and her piglets. One such measure is putting the liter with their mother into gestation crates, also referred to as farrowing stalls. Not only does this confinement prevent the mother from stepping or rolling onto her young, it also prevents cannibalism where the sow actually eats the piglets. Animal rights activists view the isolation as a violation of livestock welfare, but the reality is that, even in the wild, sows will leave their group to be by themselves to give birth, and will remain separated for the first weeks of her piglets’ lives. Furthermore, a study found that piglets raised in farrowing crates actually displayed more social behaviors, including playing with each other and interaction with the sow.
Why Gestation Crates?
Motherhood in domesticated swine is regarded quite differently, and a certain degree of human intervention must be taken to insure the well-being of both the sow, or a female pig that has given birth, and her piglets. One such measure is putting the liter with their mother into gestation crates, also referred to as farrowing stalls. Not only does this confinement prevent the mother from stepping or rolling onto her young, it also prevents cannibalism where the sow actually eats the piglets. Animal rights activists view the isolation as a violation of livestock welfare, but the reality is that, even in the wild, sows will leave their group to be by themselves to give birth, and will remain separated for the first weeks of her piglets’ lives. Furthermore, a study found that piglets raised in farrowing crates actually displayed more social behaviors, including playing with each other and interaction with the sow.
Other advantages of farrowing crates:
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It is important to note that farrowing crates aren’t suitable for every operation. Although there are no studies that observe distress or pain arising from living in these crates, a bad design can present some hazards. As I've mentioned in just about every blog post, if these animals did suffer from their conditions, they would not gain weight, produce milk, have high meat yields, and might even wind up infertile. Animal Cruelty = Bad Business.
Some disadvantages include:
Some disadvantages include:
- The crates present an upfront cost for equipment and installation then maintenance requires continuing cost for cleaning and electricity
- If not designed correctly, foot sores and even lameness are possible for both sows and piglets
- Certain models inhibit natural nesting behaviors
Widespread Use Leads To Controversy
The good undoubtedly outweighs the bad, and farrowing crates are common farming practice throughout the developed world. In the United Kingdom, 70% of sows are put into farrowing stalls. Throughout the European Union, in all of the nations considered “major pig producers”, an estimated 95% of sows are put into gestation crates. Unfortunately, due to public ignorance, their outcry caused legislatures to push for phasing out the crates in 2003. The crates migrated to the United States in 1970, and according to the USDA, in 2000, over 90% of America’s sows gave birth in farrowing stalls. American consumers have also shown a humiliating amount of concern, and Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, and California (none of which are major pork producing states, it’s interesting to note) have all banned the crates. |
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Sources:
Fan, Pig. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Farrowing Crates." No1 Pig Fan. WordPress, 18 July 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Heinsohn, Bona. "Use of Gestation and Farrowing Crates in the United States." Cook County Farm Bureau. Cook County Farm
Bureau, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.
Johnson, Anna K., and J.N. Marchant-Forde. "Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing Environment." Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing
Environment. Iowa State University, 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.
McGlone, John G. "Housing Options for Farrowing: Considerations for Animal Welfare and Economics." Pork Information
Gateway. U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, 18 Jan. 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Schinckel, Allan, PhD. "Purdue University." Purdue Food Animal Education Network. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Singh, Clara. "Welfare and Productivity of Sows and Litters Housed in Farrowing Pens Compared to Farrowing Crates." Welfare
and Productivity of Sows and Litters Housed in Farrowing Pens Compared to Farrowing Crates (n.d.): n. pag. Pork CRC.
Web. 2 Mar. 2017.
Fan, Pig. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Farrowing Crates." No1 Pig Fan. WordPress, 18 July 2014. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Heinsohn, Bona. "Use of Gestation and Farrowing Crates in the United States." Cook County Farm Bureau. Cook County Farm
Bureau, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2017.
Johnson, Anna K., and J.N. Marchant-Forde. "Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing Environment." Welfare of Pigs in the Farrowing
Environment. Iowa State University, 2009. Web. 2 Mar. 2017.
McGlone, John G. "Housing Options for Farrowing: Considerations for Animal Welfare and Economics." Pork Information
Gateway. U.S. Pork Center of Excellence, 18 Jan. 2009. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Schinckel, Allan, PhD. "Purdue University." Purdue Food Animal Education Network. Purdue University, n.d. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.
Singh, Clara. "Welfare and Productivity of Sows and Litters Housed in Farrowing Pens Compared to Farrowing Crates." Welfare
and Productivity of Sows and Litters Housed in Farrowing Pens Compared to Farrowing Crates (n.d.): n. pag. Pork CRC.
Web. 2 Mar. 2017.