Catching and loading broilers for slaughter is among the most acute welfare events in poultry production. Understanding and improving this process can reduce suffering for billions of birds.
Broiler catching is a high-intensity welfare event affecting every bird raised for meat. Traditional manual catching causes dislocation injuries, feather loss, and acute fear. Studies show injury rates of 5-15% from manual catching. Automated catching machines reduce some stress through faster processing but introduce different injury risks. Best-practice catching protocols include: night-time operations with reduced lighting, well-trained catchers with regular technique audits, optimized fasting windows, and gentle loading into transport modules. Welfare assessment during catching is increasingly included in certification audits. Consumer demand for certified higher-welfare chicken creates the commercial incentive for operators to invest in catching welfare improvement.