Farm Animals

Poultry Catching and Loading Welfare

Catching and loading poultry for transport is a high-risk welfare event. Injuries and mortality peak during this phase, and operator training makes a significant difference to outcomes.

Key Facts

Wing and leg fractures during catching are a leading cause of broiler welfare incidents at slaughter
Night catching under dim lighting reduces fear responses in poultry and improves welfare outcomes
Mechanical harvesting machines catch birds with lower injury rates than manual catching in some studies
The interval between catching and slaughter should be minimized to reduce stress and mortality

Welfare Considerations

Poultry catching and loading concentrates welfare risk into a short, high-intensity period. Poorly trained catchers working too quickly cause preventable injury and fear. Low-stress catching techniques, appropriate staffing ratios, night operations, and minimal transport intervals all reduce welfare costs during this critical phase. Third-party welfare audits at loading sites can identify and correct problematic practices.

What You Can Do

Support welfare auditing programs that include catching and loading operation assessments
Advocate for mandatory catching operator training and competency requirements
Encourage producers to invest in mechanical harvesting systems where evidence supports welfare benefits
Choose poultry from producers with certified welfare programs covering the entire production chain to slaughter