Transporting live poultry from farms to slaughter plants causes significant mortality and suffering through temperature extremes, crowding, and the stress of handling and loading.
The journey from farm to slaughterhouse is one of the most stressful experiences in a broiler chicken life. Catching by mechanical harvesters or manual methods involves rough handling causing fear and injuries. Loading into crowded crates eliminates normal movement and exposes birds to extreme temperatures if journeys are long or weather conditions are severe. Improving transport welfare requires better catching methods, vehicle climate control, journey time limits, and training for all personnel involved in handling live birds.