Farm Animals

Poultry Transport Welfare: A Neglected Area

The transport of live poultry to slaughter is associated with significant mortality and injury, with welfare improvements rarely prioritised.

Key Facts

Dead on arrival rates for broilers in the UK are approximately 0.1-0.2% but represent hundreds of thousands of birds
Catching injuries including broken wings and legs affect an estimated 4% of broilers
Cold and heat stress during transport contribute to transport mortality
Mechanical catching machines reduce injury rates compared to manual catching
The density of birds in transport crates directly affects mortality rates

Welfare Considerations

Poultry being transported to slaughter experience multiple stressors including capture, inversion, crating, temperature extremes, vibration, and feed and water withdrawal. Manual catching by teams working at high speed causes the majority of catching injuries. Birds transported in winter or summer extremes face thermal stress that can be fatal. The short duration of transport does not reduce welfare impact when stocking density is excessive.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory mechanical catching requirements to reduce catching injuries
Advocate for temperature-controlled transport for all live poultry
Back crate density regulations based on welfare outcome data
Support CCTV and welfare officer requirements extending to catching operations
Choose higher welfare chicken from farms with documented transport welfare standards