The catching and loading of poultry for transport is a high-risk period for injury and stress, and the method of catching has significant welfare implications.
The catching phase is one of the most acute stress and injury events in a commercial poultry's life. Poor catching technique causes fractures, dislocations, and haemorrhage that cause suffering during the final hours before slaughter. Training catching crews in welfare-positive techniques and using mechanical harvesting with proper management can substantially reduce catching welfare impacts.