Intensive Farming

Poultry Transport Pre-Slaughter Welfare

The period between farm loading and slaughter is a high-risk welfare phase for poultry involving multiple stressors.

Key Facts

Poultry can be transported without food or water for 12-24 hours in some regions
Heat stress during transport causes significant mortality in warm weather
Cold exposure in winter causes hypothermia and reduced welfare
EU regulations cap transport time but compliance varies

Welfare Considerations

Poultry in transport experience multiple simultaneous stressors: capture stress, confinement in crates, unfamiliar motion and vibration, temperature extremes, and food and water withdrawal. Heat stress mortality during summer transport can reach 0.5-1% of birds. Journey length and conditions disproportionately affect birds already compromised by production conditions. Better journey management saves both welfare and economic losses.

What You Can Do

Advocate for maximum transport time regulations for poultry
Support welfare standards requiring temperature-controlled transport
Buy poultry from shorter supply chain operations
Back research into transport conditions minimizing pre-slaughter stress