Farrowing Crate

In indoor intensive systems, pregnant gilts/sows (female pigs) are moved to a farrowing crate, also known as a piglet protection pen, approximately a week before farrowing (giving birth) [1]. Farrowing crates confine sows so that they are unable to turn around. Some indoor systems may have farrowing pens which can be adjusted to either provide the sow freedom to move or be confined to protect piglets from being crushed. The confinement of sows is intended to protect piglets from being crushed, particularly during farrowing (birthing) and the following few days when the risk of crushing is high. Farrowing crates, and the ability to confine the sow, allows easy access to piglets for routine husbandry procedures that commonly occur in their first few days of life.

In outdoor extensive systems, pregnant gilts/sows are moved to farrowing huts located in an outdoor area or paddock. The farrowing huts are usually bedded with straw and are big enough to allow the female pig to turn and walk around easily. Some huts may also have guards around the front of the hut that sows can easily step over to get outside but keeps piglets in the hut during their first few days or weeks of life.

Farrowing crates confine the sow but give piglets room to access the udder, as well as a separate creep area away from the sow to keep them warm and protected, whereas farrowing huts allow the sow and her piglets (from around 1-2 weeks of age) to access the outdoor area. The sow has access to the farrowing hut or remains in the farrowing crate for 3-4 weeks after farrowing, at which time her piglets are weaned and moved to weaner housing. After weaning, the sow will usually come back ‘on-heat’ (be fertile) within a few days. At this point, the sow is mated again through artificial insemination which usually involves being confined in a mating stall for several days, and is then returned to group housing.

In indoor systems, weaned piglets are grown out in group pens with concrete floors or slats with or without bedding. In semi-indoor systems (outdoor bred or bred free range), the piglets grow out in large, deep-bedded shelters (also known as ecoshelters) with bedding (such as straw or rice hulls). Whereas in outdoor systems (free range), weaned piglets may be raised in similar bedded shelters but with an outdoor area attached or in outdoor areas with smaller shelters.

There are several alternative farrowing systems to traditional farrowing crates, where sows may be confined for a shorter period or not confined at all. Temporary crating systems confine sows immediately prior and during farrowing, as well as for the first few days after farrowing but are then opened to allow the sow more freedom to move. These temporary crating systems confine sows during this time to minimise the risk of piglet mortality due to crushing, which is most likely to occur during farrowing and in the first two-to-three days after farrowing. However, immediately before farrowing is also the period that a sow is most motivated to perform nest building behaviours and thus can become frustrated if unable to move around and access nesting materials. During and immediately after farrowing are the periods that sows are likely to perform comfort behaviours to ease the pain from farrowing and interact with their piglets to establish a maternal bond, which they are also unable to easily do when confined in a farrowing crate.

Alternative farrowing systems where the sow is not confined at all and is able to move freely include individual or group farrowing pens with or without group suckling of piglets (used in indoor systems), indoor farrowing pens with access to an outdoor area, and outdoor farrowing huts located in paddocks (free-range or outdoor-bred systems). Gilts/sows in free-farrowing systems, where they are not confined, have been shown to display less abnormal behaviours and less pain during farrowing​. Providing freedom to move during farrowing and lactation also encourages maternal interactions with piglets and may encourage more natural nursing and weaning of piglets​.

Providing sows with suitable nesting material is critical for their welfare. For example, providing straw prior to farrowing so that they can perform nesting behaviours can decrease stress and pain levels in sows, as well as improve piglet survival and development​. Further, to allow for innate foraging behaviour, sows in farrowing crates should be provided with appropriate foraging material that are edible and/or otherwise satisfy the sow’s need to chew, investigate and manipulate objects and substrates in her environment.

While alternative farrowing systems currently available are often associated with slightly higher piglet mortality rates than traditional farrowing crates, they can significantly improve sow welfare during gestation, farrowing and lactation until weaning​. The improvements in animal welfare can also benefit piglet welfare in the long term, improving piglet development and behaviour (e.G., increased weight gain and decreased aggressive damaging behaviours towards other pigs), which can lead to improved production performance overall.