The United States is one of the top pork producers in the world. Approximately 74.3 million pigs are slaughtered each year in the U.S. and 27 billion pounds of pork is produced annually, with projections expected to increase every year.

In the U.S., an estimated 6 million sows, or mother pigs, are bred each year to produce litters of market pigs, resulting in hundreds of millions of pounds of pork meat. Sadly, ~60% of U.S. breeding sows spend part of their lives confined in a gestation crate roughly the same size as their body during breeding and gestation. These crates prohibit her ability to turn around, fully stretch her legs, or walk.

Thankfully, companies and the American public are increasingly prioritizing more humane treatment for sows. The U.S. pork industry is at a critical juncture for sow welfare. With groundbreaking legislation, such as California's Proposition 12 and Massachusetts’s Question 3 prohibiting the sale of products from systems that confine sows in gestation crates – along with similar production bans in nine other states – corporate commitments toward banning the use of inhumane confinement have never been more imperative. Pork producers are transitioning away from confinement systems to either group-housed or gestation crate-free housing, with 40% of U.S. breeding sows already housed in groups. Food businesses are actively implementing sow welfare policies, aligning their procurement practices with their company values.

CIWF is excited to launch PigTrack, our first compliance tracking tool to measure company progress towards a higher welfare crate-free supply. In this report, CIWF aims to:

• Educate companies on the different U.S. production systems for sows, state legislation requirements, and current market trends.
• Provide an overview of how sow welfare compares under different U.S. certifications.
• Promote U.S. companies committed to 100% gestation crate-free and fully crate-free sow welfare policies, and those reporting progress.
• Encourage transparency and compliance as the U.S. market continues to shift toward crate-free housing systems for sows.

Housing Overview - Gestation Crates

Gestation crates are one of the most extreme examples of physical confinement for farm animals today. Gestation crates are typically 7 ft x 2 ft narrow pens made of metal bars providing only 14 ft2 of space for a sow.​ Each crate is only slightly larger than the body of a sow. Inside the gestation crate, a sow is unable to turn around, walk, or fully extend her legs.

The severe physical restriction of gestation crates leads to numerous health issues for breeding sows, including lameness, pressure wounds, and reduced muscle strength and bone density.​​ Long periods spent in gestation crates can cause the sows to become stressed and exhibit stereotypic behavior, including bar-biting and sham chewing.​ These abnormal and repetitive behaviors are associated with clinical depression, frustration, and low welfare production systems.​

Group Housing

The United States is gradually transitioning sows away from gestation crates into group housing systems, where sows are housed together in open pen. Unfortunately, in group housing systems in the U.S., sows will still be confined in gestation crates for an average of 28-35 days, but up to six weeks, until they are confirmed pregnant and moved to group pens.

In total, sows in group housing systems could still be confined for over 50% of each pregnancy. This is why CIWF does not recommend group housing systems to achieve good sow welfare.

Gestation Crate-Free Housing

In gestation crate-free systems, breeding sows are in indoor pens or outdoors with other sows immediately after weaning and until approximately one week before farrowing.

Note: Some operations may allow short-term confinement (≤ 4 hours) of sows for insemination or other management purposes, but these crates are not used for permanent housing.

CIWF recommends gestation crate-free housing for good sow welfare during breeding and gestation. Guidance on good housing design and management practices to ensure successful gestation crate-free housing is available in our Higher Welfare Alternatives for Sows page.

The length of gestation crate confinement of breeding sows in different housing systems in the United States

Farrowing Crates

Unfortunately, gestation crates are not the only crates used to house sows in intensive systems. Farrowing crates, like gestation crates, severely restrict a sow’s movement and her natural behaviors. In a farrowing crate, the sow is provided with no more space than a gestation crate.

In the 24 hours before farrowing, a sow is naturally driven to isolate herself and gather materials to build a nest for her piglets. However, the farrowing crate severely inhibits the sow’s movement, and she is prevented from performing her instinctive maternal behaviors, including fully interacting with her piglets, leaving her frustrated and restless. Frustrated sows in farrowing crates can also develop stereotypic behaviors (e.g., bar biting, snout pressing) like sows confined in gestation crates.

However, higher welfare alternatives are now commercially available that allow sows to give birth and nurse their young with greater physical and behavioral freedom. Further information on free farrowing alternatives.

In intensive operations, the continuous cycle of confinement is the norm. After their piglets are weaned, sows are moved back into gestation crates and re-bred. Most sows will have approximately two litters each year and will give birth to an average of 3.5-4.5 litters in their lifetime. The intensive confinement equates to 72.5-77% of a sow's lifetime.

US Companies with Meaningful Sow Welfare Policies

This year’s PigTrack reports the progress of 13 U.S. companies across manufacturing, hospitality, and retailer sectors, that are making crate-free a reality for sows in their supply chains. 12 reputable pork producers have also been included, highlighting their dedication to sow welfare.

This year’s report also includes a spotlight on two exemplary U.S. producers, Niman Ranch and Pederson’s. These producers have been successfully operating crate-free for years and raising the bar for pig welfare in the United States. You will also read about Applegate’s journey to achieve their fully crate-free commitment, and how key partnerships have helped them to remain an industry leader in farm animal welfare.

Moving Forward

Future editions of PigTrack will include a more thorough list of company policies, company and producer features, and additional guidance on how to craft an impactful sow welfare policy. In addition, new reports will cover the latest legislative and scientific updates on sow welfare, with an additional focus on how to advance pig welfare beyond crate-free commitments.

CIWF is excited to begin tracking and highlighting the meaningful progress companies are making to improve the welfare of sows in the U.S. pork industry. Over the next year, our team will continue to support companies in developing commitments and roadmaps to fully implement sow welfare policies across their supply chains.

Future iterations will report companies under the following ranking system: 

Leading the way – Crate-free commitment w/ clear timeline & meaningful progress

Making Progress – Gestation crate-free commitment w/ clear timeline & meaningful progress

Progress Needed – Gestation crate policy but no timeline or meaningful progress

At-Risk – Only committed to group housing

Falling Behind – No commitment

This year’s first PigTrack report tracks the progress of U.S. companies towards meeting their crate-free commitments for sows. A selection of CIWF’s pig resources can be found below.

Note: Pork producers were not included individually in this year's reporting table. However, information on reputable crate-free producers and brands can be found on pages 22, 23, and 30 of PigTrack. 

A harmful provision in the upcoming Farm Bill, taken from the EATS Act, could nullify state laws, including California's Proposition 12 and Massachusetts's Question 3 and ban similar laws in the future. These laws protect public health, address animal cruelty in the pork industry, and promote market opportunities for smaller, higher-welfare pork producers.

Companies, producers, and citizens must push back to protect state and citizen rights, farm animal welfare, food safety, and market competition. If you would like to get involved, Contact the Food Business Team.