Poultry transport to slaughter creates acute welfare challenges through catching stress, thermal extremes, and high mortality rates.
The transition from farm to slaughter involves multiple welfare insults: catching, crating, thermal shock between building and vehicle, road vibration, and novel sounds. Each stage adds to cumulative stress. Transport mortality, while small as a percentage, represents millions of birds dying in distress annually. Night catching and short journeys with temperature-controlled vehicles represent meaningful improvements.