Poultry Transport Heat Stress and Mortality

How heat and cold stress during transport kills millions of poultry birds annually and the welfare improvements available.

Key Facts

Up to 1% of broiler chickens die during transport in summer months
Transport mortality spikes sharply when temperatures exceed 25 degrees Celsius
Broiler chickens bred for rapid growth are particularly vulnerable to heat during transport
Ventilation failure in transport trucks causes mass mortality events
Regulations in many countries require journey time limits and temperature controls but enforcement is inconsistent

Welfare Considerations

Poultry transport is one of the most acutely stressful events in a farmed bird's life. Loading causes significant fear, struggling, and sometimes injuries. In hot weather, birds packed into crates with poor airflow quickly develop heat stress and can die from hyperthermia within hours. In cold weather, chilling causes hypothermia and immune compromise. The combination of fear stress and thermal stress creates conditions of significant suffering even in journeys measured in minutes. Nighttime transport and improved ventilation design can dramatically reduce mortality.

What You Can Do

Advocate for stricter temperature monitoring requirements during poultry transport
Support installation of welfare monitoring systems in poultry transport vehicles
Choose products from supply chains that demonstrate low transport mortality rates
Encourage meat companies to publish transport mortality statistics
Support research into better crate design that reduces heat stress during transport