The hours before slaughter involve significant handling stress for broiler chickens from catching through stunning, representing a major welfare opportunity.
The pre-slaughter period represents one of the highest welfare risks in chicken production. Manual catching by crews working quickly causes wing fractures, bruising, and extreme fear responses. Prolonged holding in crates causes thermal stress, dehydration, and fear. Improving catching practices, reducing holding times, and providing optimal transport temperatures substantially reduces suffering in the final hours of these animals' lives.