Transport to slaughter is one of the highest-risk welfare periods for poultry. Millions of birds die during transit annually; understanding the causes enables targeted intervention to reduce suffering.
Poultry transport welfare encompasses the combined stress of catching, crating, loading, transit, and lairage before slaughter. Each stage presents distinct welfare risks. Manual catching by the legs causes acute pain and injury; operators under time pressure apply excessive force. Crate loading at high density prevents normal posture and movement. Transit exposes birds to temperature extremes, vibration, and noise. Lairage waiting periods before slaughter add to cumulative stress. A welfare approach to transport requires training for catchers in handling technique, appropriate crate loading densities, temperature-controlled vehicles, journey time minimisation, and continuous monitoring of mortality and injury rates as welfare outcome indicators.