Transporting poultry over long distances causes significant welfare harm through thermal stress, food and water deprivation, and physical injury. Shorter journey times and improved vehicle design are the primary welfare interventions.
Long-distance poultry transport combines multiple stressors: unfamiliar motion, crowding in crates, inability to feed or drink, thermal extremes, and handling injury during loading and unloading. The absence of maximum journey time limits in major producing countries like the United States means birds can be transported for days in some supply chains. Reducing journey times through expanded slaughter capacity near production areas is the most impactful systemic intervention. Vehicle design improvements including ventilation systems, temperature monitoring, and crate design that reduces injury are achievable within existing infrastructure. Journey time limits backed by enforcement reduce the worst welfare outcomes in transport.