Growing interest among consumers regarding how their food is produced is becoming increasingly evident; the majority of consumers would favor a ban on sow crates during pregnancy, according to a survey by Michigan State University. Among pork producers, nearly half of those with sows indicated that there would be no adjustment costs if a ban were implemented.

This survey was designed to explore the adjustments that may be necessary if gestation crates were to be banned among Michigan pig producers. Around one-third of the producers with sows were using individual crates as the primary method of housing sows/gilts during gestation, which is a much lower proportion than the state average from other surveys. The use of gestation crates was more common for larger operations: for every additional 1,000 sows an operation has, it was 25% more likely to use gestation crates.

Nearly half (49%) of producers felt that it was unlikely that legislation will pass in Michigan within the next three years banning the use of gestation crates, while 27% thought it was likely. With respect to a national ban on gestation crates, 58% felt it was unlikely, although 26% thought it was likely.

To update production practices to be in line with the gestation crate ban, 47% of producers thought no one-time adjustment costs would occur, while 32% thought that it could cost up to $200,000 and 21% thought it could cost over $200,000. With respect to annual production cost increases, half thought it would result in a 0% increase, 30% thought it would result in a 1-10% increase, 17% thought it would result in a 11-20% increase, and 3% thought it would be a 20%+ increase.

Among consumers, the study’s authors say that “they were surprised to find that only 3% indicated animal welfare was the primary reason for not purchasing pork. ‘Price of pork’ was given as the reason by 25%, and ‘preparation time/ease’ by 11% of those not buying pig meat.” A majority of consumers would vote in favor of a ban on gestation crates (54%) as well as lactation crates (68%).