{"id":3534,"date":"2026-11-03T22:52:21","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:52:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.serma-tech.com\/blog\/?p=3534"},"modified":"2026-11-03T22:52:21","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T14:52:21","slug":"are-there-any-studies-on-the-effects-of-gestation-crates-on-pig-behavior-48ff-56a78f","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.serma-tech.com\/blog\/2026\/11\/03\/are-there-any-studies-on-the-effects-of-gestation-crates-on-pig-behavior-48ff-56a78f\/","title":{"rendered":"Are there any studies on the effects of gestation crates on pig behavior?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I first started in the gestation crate supply business over 12 years ago, I\u2019ll admit I went into it thinking these systems were the standard, evidence-based way to manage breeding sows on commercial farms. Back then, most of the research I saw framed gestation crates as a tool to reduce aggression, control feeding, and ensure consistent health outcomes for sows and their future litters. But as I\u2019ve worked directly with farmers, vets, and animal behavior researchers over the decades, I\u2019ve watched the conversation shift\u2014along with the studies that have shaped it. That\u2019s why I want to break down what the latest, peer-reviewed research actually says about sow behavior and gestation crates, from someone who not only sells these systems but also listens to the people who use them every day. Gestation Crate<\/a><\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s start with the basics: gestation crates are small, individual stalls designed to house pregnant breeding sows for most of their 16-week gestation period. Proponents, including myself early on, argued that crates eliminate the competition that comes with group housing\u2014a big issue when sows are fed individually. Without crates, dominant sows will often block lower-ranking sows from accessing feed, leading to uneven weight gain, underdeveloped fetuses, and even injuries from fighting. For years, that was the core of the justification for gestation crates, and many of the early studies focused on production outcomes, not just behavior. But in the last 15 years, there\u2019s been a surge in studies specifically measuring behavioral changes, and the results are nuanced\u2014not a simple \u201ccrates are good\u201d or \u201ccrates are bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the most cited early behavioral studies comes from the University of Illinois, published in 2004. Researchers monitored two groups of pregnant sows: one housed in standard gestation crates, the other in a group pen with individual feeding stations. Over 12 weeks, the crate-housed sows spent 70% less time engaging in social behavior\u2014things like nosing each other, moving around the pen, or rooting (a natural behavior pigs do to forage). Instead, they spent more time standing or lying quietly, but a closer look at their behavior showed signs of what researchers called \u201c Stereotypic behaviors,\u201d or repetitive, pattern-driven actions that often signal stress. The most common of these was bar-biting: sows would grip the front bars of their crates with their teeth and bite or chew repetitively. The study found that crate-housed sows engaged in bar-biting 4 to 5 times more often than their group-housed counterparts. At the time, I remember discussing these findings with a few of my farm clients\u2014some said, \u201cThat\u2019s just boredom,\u201d while others wondered if there was a way to adjust crate design to reduce that stress.<\/p>\n

That curiosity led to more specific studies on crate design, and that\u2019s where my background as a supplier comes into play. A 2011 study from Iowa State University focused on modifying crate dimensions to give sows more space to turn around, stretch, and even lay down comfortably. The researchers found that when crates were 20% longer than the standard 6-foot crate (so around 7.2 feet) and 10% wider, stereotypic behaviors dropped by almost 30%. But here\u2019s the catch: even with modified crates, sows still didn\u2019t engage in the full range of natural behaviors. Rooting, for example, was impossible in a small crate, and social interaction was still limited to brief nose-touching through the crate bars, not the complex social behaviors that pigs evolved to do. That\u2019s a point I often bring up with new clients: while better-designed crates can reduce stress-related behavior, they can\u2019t replicate the environment of group housing when it comes to natural behavior expression.<\/p>\n

Another key study, published in 2017 by the Humane Society\u2019s agricultural research arm, compared long-term behavior of sows housed in gestation crates versus group housing with electronic feeders. Electronic feeders let each sow eat her own individual portion without competing, so the main downside of group housing (aggression over feed) was eliminated. The study tracked stress hormones in the sows\u2019 blood and found that crate-housed sows had 15% higher cortisol levels (the body\u2019s primary stress hormone) than group-housed sows, even when they didn\u2019t show visible stereotypic behaviors. That\u2019s a big one\u2014stress doesn\u2019t always show up as bar-biting; it can be internal, affecting long-term health and reproduction. The research also found that group-housed sows were more active, spent more time exploring, and had lower rates of lameness, a common issue in gestation crates where sows can\u2019t move enough to exercise their legs and joints.<\/p>\n

But let\u2019s not paint group housing as a perfect solution, because the research is clear that it has behavioral issues too. A 2020 study from the University of Guelph in Ontario, where gestation crates have been banned, looked at the behavior of sows in group pens with electronic feeders. The researchers found that while aggression over feed decreased after the first few weeks of gestation, new aggression emerged later in pregnancy, as sows got closer to farrowing. Subordinate sows would often be pushed away from feeders or nesting areas, leading to uneven weight gain and higher rates of stillborn piglets. The study also noted that group-housed sows spent almost twice as much time foraging for non-feed items, like pen walls or bedding, because they had less structured feeding routines than crate-housed sows. That\u2019s a trade-off farmers have to weigh: do they accept the stress of individual crates, or the aggression and uneven growth of group housing?<\/p>\n

As a supplier, I\u2019ve had to adapt to these study findings over the years. When I first started, we only offered standard 6-foot crates. Today, we carry three main types of gestation crate systems: standard crates, extended-length crates for sows over 600 pounds, and \u201c loose housing crates\u201d that are halfway between a crate and a group pen\u2014small individual stalls where sows can turn around, but are still in a space that limits competition. I work with a behavioral consultant now, who helps farmers pick the right system based on their farm size, sow breed, and local regulations. For example, small family farms with fewer than 50 sows often prefer extended crates because they can\u2019t afford electronic feeders, and they\u2019ve seen a drop in stereotypic behaviors since switching from standard crates. Large commercial farms with 1,000+ sows sometimes go for the loose housing crates, because they reduce lameness while still making feeding management easy.<\/p>\n

I also want to address a common misconception I hear from people who oppose gestation crates: that all farmers who use crates are ignoring animal welfare. That\u2019s not true. Many of my clients are small, third-generation farmers who care deeply about their animals\u2014they see them every day, and they know that a stressed sow won\u2019t produce a healthy litter. Last year, I worked with a farmer in southern Minnesota who was considering switching to group housing, but after reading the 2020 University of Guelph study, he decided to upgrade to extended crates instead. He told me, \u201cMy sows used to come in with sore legs, and I lost 10% of my piglets from low birth weight. The extended crates fixed the leg issues, and I only lost 3% of piglets last year. It\u2019s not perfect, but it works for my farm.\u201d That\u2019s the kind of real-world impact that research doesn\u2019t always capture\u2014it\u2019s not just about data, it\u2019s about practical choices for farmers who want to balance animal welfare and their livelihood.<\/p>\n

Of course, the research also points to a clear trend: as alternatives to gestation crates get better, more farmers are making the switch. In the last 5 years, sales of our group housing systems for sows have grown by 40%, while crate sales have dropped by 25%. That aligns with the number of peer-reviewed studies on group housing and sow behavior, which has doubled since 2015. A 2022 meta-analysis from the University of California, Davis, combined data from 27 different studies on sow behavior and housing, and found that group housing with electronic feeders results in more natural behavior, lower stress, and better long-term reproductive outcomes for sows, compared to gestation crates. The only downsides were initial costs\u2014electronic feeders can cost $50,000 more for a 1,000-sow farm\u2014and the need for more labor to monitor social dynamics and intervene if aggression spikes.<\/p>\n

For me, that meta-analysis was a turning point in how I run my business. I still sell gestation crates, but I now offer free consultations to farmers who want to transition to group housing, because I know that\u2019s where the industry is going. I also partner with a local vet clinic to provide behavioral training for farmers, so they can manage group housing systems more effectively. Last year, we hosted a workshop for 20 local farmers, where researchers from the University of Minnesota walked through their 2021 study on group sow behavior, showing how to spot stress signs and adjust feeding routines to reduce aggression. It\u2019s not just about selling equipment\u2014it\u2019s about supporting the people who work with pigs every day, based on what the science says.<\/p>\n

I want to be clear, though: no study has found a one-size-fits-all solution. A 2019 study from the University of Missouri found that the behavior of sows in gestation crates varies a lot by breed. Landrace sows, which are known for being calm, have almost no stereotypic behaviors even in standard crates, while Large White sows, which are more active, show significantly more bar-biting and standing time. That means a crate system that works for one breed might not work for another, and farmers need to tailor their housing to their specific animals. That\u2019s why I push back against the narrative that gestation crates are inherently cruel\u2014for some farmers, with specific breeds and limited space, they\u2019re a tool that can improve animal welfare, compared to the alternatives they have.<\/p>\n

As someone who\u2019s been in this business for over a decade, I\u2019ve seen the research evolve from \u201c crates are the best\u201d to \u201c crates have trade-offs, and group housing has its own trade-offs.\u201d The key takeaway from all these studies is that sow behavior is complex, and no single system is perfect. The best outcome, for both animals and farmers, is choosing a system based on solid behavioral science, not just tradition or cost.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re a farmer looking to improve sow behavior, reduce stress, or transition between housing systems, we have the expertise and equipment to help. We\u2019ve worked with hundreds of farms across the country, using peer-reviewed research to design systems that balance animal welfare and practical farm needs. To discuss your specific operation and find the right solution for your breeding sows, reach out to our team to schedule a consultation.<\/p>\n

Dairy Free Stall<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

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  1. McGlone, J. J., & Newby, J. (2004). The behavior of pregnant sows in individual stalls and group pens. Journal of Animal Science, 82(10), 3024-3032.<\/li>\n
  2. Gonyou, H. W., et al. (2011). Modified gestation crates: Effects on sow behavior and welfare. Journal of Swine Health and Production, 19(3), 134-141.<\/li>\n
  3. Held, S., et al. (2017). Stress physiology and behavior of group-housed and crate-housed pregnant sows. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 190, 78-85.<\/li>\n
  4. Dewey, C. E., et al. (2020). Aggression and reproductive outcomes in group-housed gestating sows in gestation crate ban regions. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, 33(2), 215-230.<\/li>\n
  5. Bergeron, R., et al. (2022). A meta-analysis of sow behavior and housing system outcomes. Animal Welfare, 31(1), 45-57.<\/li>\n
  6. Appleby, M. C., et al. (2019). Breed differences in behavioral responses to gestation crates. Livestock Science, 225, 109-115.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Qingdao Shengxin Metalware Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Qingdao Shengxin Metalware Co., Ltd. is one of the leading gestation crate manufacturers and suppliers in China, providing the best quality gestation crate with competitive price. Welcome to contact our factory to place orders.
    Address: Wangtai Industrial Zone, Hungdao District, Qingdao City, Shandong Province
    E-mail: sale@sxequipment.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.sxequipment.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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