Transportation to slaughter is one of the most stressful phases of a broiler chicken's life. Improving catching, loading, journey conditions, and lairage practices reduces suffering significantly.
Transport welfare for chickens encompasses the entire period from farm catching through slaughter — a sequence of stressors each of which can cause significant suffering. Manual catching by legs (standard industry practice) causes acute pain from wing dislocation and bruising. Crowding into transport crates restricts movement and normal posture. Temperature extremes during loading, transit, and lairage cause thermal stress or death. Rapid automated catching systems can reduce handling injuries but require careful design. Reducing journey times and waiting times at the abattoir, ensuring thermal comfort during all stages, and training catchers in careful handling are the key welfare levers available within current systems. Journey time capping and mandatory water access during long journeys require legislative attention.