Depopulation - the catching and removal of broiler chickens at the end of their production cycle - is one of the highest-risk welfare periods in poultry production.
Depopulation welfare represents the culmination of the broiler production cycle - welfare harms at this stage affect birds who have already lived their entire production life. The catching, crating, transport, and lairage sequence imposes multiple simultaneous stressors: handling, social disruption, unfamiliar environments, temperature extremes, and finally the pre-slaughter environment. Welfare improvements are achievable through better catcher training, mechanical harvesting where applicable, careful transport management including journey time limits, and well-designed lairage with appropriate atmospheric stunning. The industry's ability to demonstrate improvements in measurable welfare indicators - injury rates, dead on arrival rates - provides accountability for this high-risk welfare period.