The majority of systems involve the sow being housed individually whilst she gives birth and raises her litter.
Zero-confinement pens include a range of modified designs in which the crate is completely absent ensuring zero confinement and true free farrowing. They include:
- Simple pens: occupying a similar footprint to that of the conventional farrowing crate with fully slatted floors and;
- Designed pens: larger with defined regions including separate dunging and lying areas, as well as additional pen “furniture” such as rails or sloped walls to assist sow posture changes and protect piglets.
