The major welfare problems of farrowing accommodation concern piglet crushing, disease and weakness. The farrowing crate has been designed to prevent these piglet welfare problems. However, for the sow the restrictive nature of the farrowing crate may decrease her welfare. As studies of free-ranging pigs show, sows often choose to leave their young at intervals (Jensen et. al., 1991) and this is prevented in the conventional farrowing crate. The development of a less restrictive farrowing system might allow the sow to express behaviour similar to that seen in free-ranging conditions. The objective of this experiment was to compare the production performance of the farrowing crate with farrowing systems which allow the sow to leave her offspring.