Mechanical harvesters are used to catch broilers in intensive poultry houses at the end of production. Understanding their welfare impacts compared to manual catching informs industry and regulatory standards.
The catching and transport phase represents one of the most acute welfare events in a broiler chicken's life. Mechanical catching, when properly maintained and calibrated, can achieve injury rates comparable to skilled manual catching. However, poorly maintained machines or operator error causes disproportionate injury to animals that have no ability to escape. The brief duration of catching does not diminish its welfare significance — acute pain from wing fracture is genuine suffering regardless of how short the episode.