Researchers think Australia's pig farmers can successfully phase out sow stalls.

The Australian pork industry is reviewing the use of the controversial stalls in response to criticism from animal welfare groups.

Farmers argue they need the stalls to control aggressive sows.

But Roger Campbell, from the Pork Co-operative Research Centre (CRC), says the research shows closer monitoring of pigs can replace stalls.

"You know, this is not a minor increase in improvement in performance, this is an outcome that can change the whole system and the way we produce pork forever."

Australian Pork Limited's Andrew Spencer says he supports the Pork CRC's bid to do more research on the productivity of group housing for pigs compared with sow stalls.

But he says the suggestion that sow stalls are less productive is, for now, just a hypothesis.

"There is more work to be done in terms of sow housing and how we do it, not only for the best interests of the pigs, but in a way that our customers can support," he says.

The CRC is finding more ways to do improve sow housing, he adds.