By Brent Hershey, Hershey Ag

While California is a favorite punching bag for new ideas and exposing problems, they got it right with Prop 12.

The sow gestation crate system started to be attacked in the late 1990’s. Today, 12 states have banned the gestation crate. And two states have banned meat from that type of system. As more people understand this system of housing a sow, they reject it and view it as “a black eye for the pork industry.”

A gestation crate system houses a sow in a way that they cannot walk or turn around while in the crate for months at a time. Basically, this makes the sow a couch potato. No animal should be confined in a system like this.

I have heard all the arguments for the gestation crate system but all these points are mute when you stop and consider the basic issue. The sow is not able to walk or turn around for months at a time.

I, along with many Pennsylvania hog producers, have changed my sow barn system away from gestation crates. I have eliminated all gestation crates. While we had to provide more square footage for our sows, I am happy to report that we have greater sow comfort, improved sow health and production levels have increased. It has been a success story for our farm!

In a recent East Coast heat wave, the increased Prop 12, 24-square footage was dramatic in stopping heat stress in our sow herds. We are realizing numerous benefits for the sows and production as a result of this new housing system.

While it has taken more square footage to house the sows, it’s easy to see that it is better. The sows soldiered in tight quarters we all were used to seeing is not acceptable. The argument that it costs more money to house sows at 24 sq. ft. is pointless. In reality, this 24 sq. ft. minimum should have been the standard all along.

I challenge our industry to evolve and move forward. Years from now, we will look back and wonder how the gestation crate system existed. We have a responsibility to care for animals in a proper way and to move forward as we discover mistakes of the past.

I offer my help to any producers who want to transition to Prop 12, 24 sq. ft. standards.

Check out our website, and links to our successes with Prop 12. Particularly, our “Hershey Sow Condos” for sow weaning recovery and breeding sows. Link to video: Hershey Ag's Prop 12 Success Story: Unveiling the Sow Condos Advantage or simply search Brent Hershey Prop 12 success on YouTube.

Let's look forward to the future!

Hershey is a 40-year pork producer with Hershey Ag and Superior Production Systems.