After thorough meta-analyses of the world’s available literature on the state of being
engendered by two common keeping systems for pregnant sows and gilts, an international,
multidisciplinary team of scientists recently concluded: “Although individual studies found
significant housing system effects, subjected to the overall evidence from adequately designed
studies, meta-analyses revealed that gestation stalls (non-tethered) or well-managed pens
generally (but not in all cases) produced similar states of welfare for pregnant gilts or sows in
terms of physiology, behavior, performance, and health.” (J. J. McGlone et al., Prof. Anim.
Scient. 20:105-117, 2004).
Despite this and other similar conclusions (e. g., J. L. Barnett et al., Aust. J. Agric. Res.
52:1-28, 2001), continuing political pressure by animal protectionists nowadays is causing North
American producers, animal scientists, and veterinarians alike to ask: How should we go about
optimizing sow state of being?
A series of at least seven decisions will have to be made as we go about answering this
question. In what follows, we’ll explore those topics and offer our opinions as to how we should
be moving forward in these matters at this time.