With the UK set to phase out farrowing crates, animal charities unite to call for a truly cage-free future.

Every year approximately 150,000 UK mother pigs are confined in cramped metal farrowing crates shortly before they give birth. The UK Government committed to phasing out farrowing crates as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy, but there are concerns that the eventual reforms may fall short of delivering a truly cage-free future and merely swap one cruel system for another. Animal Equality UK, Anima, Compassion in World Farming, Four Paws, Humane World for Animals, OneKind and RSPCA have joined forces to write to the UK Government and call for a full ban on all routine crating of mother pigs.

Farrowing crates represent some of the most severe forms of confinement used for any farmed animal: mother pigs remain trapped for up to five weeks at a time, unable to turn around or nuzzle their piglets. There is widespread industry acceptance that these outdated crates must be phased out, but one of the alternatives currently being considered is temporary (or “adaptive” or “flexible”) crating - which would still confine mother pigs for up to 10 days before, during and after giving birth.

Temporary crates fail to meet the core welfare needs of both mother pigs and piglets. They confine mother pigs at the time when they are most likely to experience extreme stress from being caged. In the 24 hours prior to giving birth, hormonal changes drive a mother pig to become highly active and build a nest for her piglets. When she is unable to do this, she will experience intense stress and frustration, which is not only harms her own welfare but is also associated with an increased risk of stillborn piglets. Even short‑term confinement has profound welfare impacts and is incompatible with modern expectations around animal welfare.

The public mood is clear. Polling by Bryant Research on ‘unacceptable farming practices’ found that, keeping pigs in tight cages where they cannot turn around for weeks had a UK public disapproval rating of 96.2%. Temporary crates would not avoid this scenario and would also fail to support the Government’s vision of bringing the “biggest boost to animal welfare” in a generation.

In comparison, well designed free farrowing pens can offer a truly cage-free alternative. These indoor pens allow mother pigs to carry out natural nest building behaviours, move around and fully interact with their piglets. A wealth of scientific evidence shows that these free-farrowing pens are a far better alternative for both mother pigs and piglets – including reduced stress and lower rates of piglet mortality due to stillbirth, starvation and diarrhoea.

Anthony Field, Head of Compassion in World Farming UK, said:

Replacing farrowing crates with temporary crates is not the reform mother pigs need – it would be a short sighted move that would not deliver the commitment to End the Cage Age. Replacing one bad system with another would not sufficiently improve the welfare of mother pigs and risks amounting to welfare washing.

Moving to temporary crates will also not meet the expectations of the UK public, who have been calling for an end to cages for mother pigs for decades - they overwhelmingly want to see a ban on caging mother pigs, not a rebranded version of the same cruelty. The Government must back free farrowing by ultimately introducing legislation that delivers a genuine cage-free future for pigs.

Claire Bass, Senior Director Campaigns and Public Affairs, Humane World for Animals UK, said:

The Government has committed to ending the Cage Age for mother pigs, but replacing one cage with another would fall far short of that promise. Mother pigs are intelligent, sensitive animals with powerful instincts to build nests and care for their young. Confining them in crates at the very moment they are preparing to give birth denies those instincts and causes significant suffering. A cage is a cage, and the public rightly expects better. Ministers now have an opportunity to deliver a genuinely cage-free future by supporting a direct transition to free-farrowing systems.

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns, RSPCA, said:

Flexible farrowing, regardless of how it is promoted, is just tinkering around the edges of conventional farrowing systems, which restrict pigs and harm their welfare.

Yet extensive data proves that we do not have to choose between welfare and productivity - in fact, shifting away from confinement will create a healthier, more resilient environment for both animals and farmers. Sows are perfectly capable of raising their litters without confinement when provided with an appropriate environment - and much happier doing so.

Now is the time to lead with compassion and adopt systems that truly allow both sows and piglets to thrive, and ensure that animals get the respect they deserve.

Kirsty Jenkins, Director of Policy, OneKind, said:

It is difficult to convey in words the distress and frustration a caged pig feels, separated from her piglets and unable to move. People are rightly horrified when they find out this is standard practice. Simply shortening the period that she is caged from weeks to days is not good enough. Allowing pigs to walk, turn around, and care for their piglets is the very least we as a society should do. The UK and devolved governments must urgently transition to truly cage free pig farming.

As the UK Government prepares to consult on phasing out farrowing crates Animal Equality UK, Anima, Compassion in World Farming, Four Paws, Humane World for Animals, OneKind and RSPCA are calling for action that will truly End the Cage Age for mother pigs.

Temporary crates must not be considered as an acceptable alternative. To take meaningful action to improve pig welfare, the UK Government must consult on a full ban on the routine crating of mother pigs and a direct move to higher welfare free farrowing systems.

~ends~

For more information please email media.team@ciwf.org

Download images and video footage of mother pigs in farrowing crates.

View the letter sent to the UK Government.

Notes to Editors

Compassion in World Farming was founded in 1967 by a British dairy farmer who became horrified at the development of intensive factory farming. Today Compassion is the leading farm animal welfare organisation dedicated to ending factory farming and achieving humane and sustainable food. With headquarters in the UK, we have offices across Europe, in the US, China and South Africa.  
The Government’s Animal Welfare Strategy included a commitment to “work with the industry to explore how to transition away from the use of farrowing crates to alternative systems”.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), through its 2022 review carried out by a panel of 20 leading animal health and welfare scientists, concluded that both mother pig and piglet welfare are better in well‑functioning free farrowing systems than in temporary crates.
Recent Defra‑commissioned research conducted by the University of Reading found that UK consumers are willing to pay materially more for genuinely crate-free pork. Households were estimated to value eliminating crates at £1.4 billion per year, equivalent to an extra £2.52 per kg of pork, while a move to temporary crating was valued at only 90p extra per kg.
Polling by Bryant Research on ‘Unacceptable Farming Practices’ found keeping pigs in tight cages had a UK public disapproval rating of 96.2%.

UK Government’s pledge to end cages mother pigs risks being undermined