The catching and loading of poultry for transport to slaughter is one of the highest-risk welfare events in commercial poultry production.
Poultry catching at the end of the growing cycle exposes birds to extreme handling stress in a short period. The welfare impact depends heavily on the competence and care of the catching crew, the state of the birds, and the design of the catching and loading process. Evidence shows that significant proportions of birds sustain injuries during catching, with implications for both welfare and meat quality. Mechanical harvesters designed for broiler catching can reduce some types of injury but introduce different welfare challenges that require careful management.