The catching, transport, and lairage phases before poultry slaughter are among the most welfare-critical events in a broiler's life. Improving these processes significantly reduces suffering for billions of birds annually.
The final hours of a broiler's life include some of the most intense welfare harms: rough manual catching, crating at high density, transport stress, and the lairage environment before slaughter. Each of these represents an opportunity for welfare improvement. Mechanical harvesting systems can replace manual catching and reduce injury rates. Controlled atmosphere stunning ensures unconsciousness before any further handling. Monitoring transport mortality and lairage conditions gives producers and regulators measurable welfare indicators. The scale means even modest improvements benefit billions of individuals.