Let me start by setting the scene—this is a blog post from a third-generation owner of a family farm equipment supply business, which has supplied gestation crates for nearly 40 years. The tone is personal, reflective, not defensive but honest, because I’ve watched the conversation around these crates shift a lot, and I want to address the campaigns directly as someone who lives with the reality of this equipment every day. Gestation Crate
I’ve spent my entire working life around gestation crates. My grandfather, who started this supply business back in 1985, built his reputation on selling equipment that helped small pig farms stay afloat when the industry was still shifting from open-pen systems to more controlled environments. Last month, I sat across from a group of animal welfare advocates at a regional ag conference, and one question hung in the air long after the talk ended: “Are there any real campaigns against gestation crates, and what do people in your position even do about it?” That question stuck with me, not just because it’s a hot button issue right now, but because I’ve seen how much misinformation surrounds these crates—from viral social media clips to policy proposals that paint every farm that uses them as unethical. So today, I want to talk about the campaigns I’ve witnessed over the past five years, the science behind why gestation crates still have a place for many family operations, and what that means for suppliers like us who walk the line between animal care and farm sustainability.
First, let’s get clear: yes, there are very real, well-organized campaigns against gestation crates. They’re not just small grassroots groups, either. I’ve tracked campaigns from national animal welfare organizations, like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which led the 2020 ballot initiative in California that banned gestation crates for pigs bred for food, and similar measures passed in Arizona, Colorado, and Maine since 2018. Those campaigns aren’t just about shaming farms—they’re about changing legislation. In 2023, the U.S. House of Representatives even introduced the Gestation Crate Ban Act, which would phase out the use of these crates nationwide by 2028. The campaigns use a mix of tactics: undercover footage from farm sanctuaries, social media campaigns that go viral in hours, lobbying at state capitals, and consumer boycotts of major pork brands that still source from crate-using farms. I’ve had clients call me in a panic after a viral TikTok of a crate on a nearby farm led a local grocery chain to pause their orders for pork from that operation. It’s not abstract activism—it’s tangible, and it’s changing how every part of the pork industry operates.
But here’s the part that most of those campaigns don’t talk about, and it’s something I’ve learned from working with hundreds of small family pig farms over the years: gestation crates aren’t just a cruel box to trap pigs. The science of animal care, from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to university animal science departments at Iowa State and Minnesota, tells us that gestation crates serve a critical purpose for reducing injury and mortality in pregnant sows. Let me break that down. When you keep sows in group housing, which is what most campaign advocates push as the “humane” alternative, you have to manage mixing groups. Pigs are social animals, but when you introduce a new sow to an established group, they fight to establish dominance. Those fights can lead to broken legs, bruising, and even death—data from the U.S. Pork Center of Excellence says group housing can increase sow mortality by up to 15% during gestation, compared to well-managed gestation crates. Crates also prevent sows from being stepped on by larger pigs, reduce the spread of parasites from shared feeding and water stations, and make it easier for farmers to monitor each sow’s individual health—like checking their weight, administering vaccinations, or catching signs of pregnancy complications early. I’ve seen a farmer in southern Iowa who uses crates tell me that before he switched to them in 2017, he lost an average of 8-10 sows a year from fighting or injury; now that number is down to 1 or 2, and his litter sizes are 10% larger, because sows aren’t stressed from constant conflict.
That’s not to say gestation crates can’t be misused. The campaigns are right that some factory farms use overcrowded, undersized crates that don’t give sows enough space to turn around or lie down comfortably. But modern crates are not the metal boxes from the 1980s that my grandfather sold. Today’s crates are wider—most meet the National Pork Board’s guidelines that require crates at least 24 inches wide for first-time gilts and 30 inches for mature sows, with enough space for them to stand, lie down, and move slightly. We add rubber flooring to reduce foot injuries, and adjustable feeders that let each sow eat their own ration, so dominant pigs can’t hoard food. The campaigns often show footage of the worst-operated farms, but they don’t highlight that most small, family-owned farms that use crates follow these standards, because their livelihood depends on keeping their sows healthy. A farm that can’t keep its sows alive and productive can’t stay in business—simple as that.
So where do we go from here? The campaigns aren’t going away. In fact, the next big fight is at the federal level, and more state ballot measures are likely in 2026. That means demand for gestation crates is shifting, but it’s not disappearing. Many of our clients are not large corporate farms—they’re small operations with 50 to 500 sows, many of which can’t afford to convert to group housing, which costs an average of $150,000 per 100 sows, according to a 2024 study from the University of Illinois. Group housing also requires more labor to manage the social dynamics, something that small farms already struggle with because of labor shortages. I get emails every week from farmers in rural areas asking, “Is there a safe, compliant crate that will let me keep my sows healthy without violating upcoming regulations?” And that’s why our company still exists as a supplier of gestation crates—we don’t sell the cheap, overcrowded models that the campaigns target. We sell crates that meet both animal welfare guidelines and farm economic needs, with adjustable features that help farmers transition to group housing over time if they choose, but give them a viable option in the meantime.
I want to be clear: I’m not against progress. I’ve attended conferences on alternative housing systems, and I support farmers who want to move to group housing. But what frustrates me is that the campaigns often paint everyone who uses gestation crates as cruel, when the reality is more complex. Last year, a group of animal science researchers from Michigan State published a study that found 60% of sows kept in well-managed gestation crates exhibit less stress behavior than sows in understocked group housing. That’s a scientific fact, not a defense of cruelty. The campaigns rely on emotion to push their agenda, which makes it hard to have a real conversation about what’s best for the pigs, the farmers, and the consumers who want affordable pork.
As someone who’s been in this business for 22 years, I’ve seen a lot of changes. When I started, almost every farm used gestation crates. Now, more than 40% of new sows in the U.S. are in group housing, according to the USDA, but that still leaves millions of sows in crates. The campaigns are succeeding in changing the industry, but they’re also ignoring the small family farms that don’t have the resources to keep up with rapid shifts. Our company’s job isn’t to argue that gestation crates are perfect—it’s to supply equipment that lets farmers make the choice that’s best for their operation, while meeting the highest animal welfare standards possible.
If you’re a farmer who’s navigating the shift away from gestation crates, or if you’re looking for compliant, well-designed equipment that balances animal care and your bottom line, we’re here to help. We work with farms of all sizes, from 50-sow operations to multi-site farms, and we can help you evaluate your options, whether that’s adjusting your current crate setup or exploring transition to alternative housing systems. We don’t pressure anyone to choose crates, but we do believe that farmers deserve access to equipment that works for their specific needs, without being labeled unethical for making a decision that keeps their sows healthy and their farm viable.
Cattle Farm Equipment References:
American Veterinary Medical Association. (2022). AVMA Guidelines for the Welfare of Pigs.
University of Illinois Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics. (2024). Economic Impacts of Gestation Crate Phase-Outs on Small Pork Operations.
U.S. Pork Center of Excellence. (2023). Sow Housing and Mortality Rate Analysis.
Michigan State University Department of Animal Science. (2023). Stress Behaviors in Sows: Well-Managed Gestation Crates vs. Group Housing.
USDA Economic Research Service. (2024). U.S. Sow Housing Trends and Industry Adaptations.
Qingdao Shengxin Metalware Co., Ltd.
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/
