Farmed Poultry Welfare: Catching Machine Impact

Mechanical catching machines for broiler chickens can reduce the welfare problems of manual catching but require careful operation to prevent injury and stress.

Key Facts

Manual catching of broilers involves teams grabbing birds by the legs in darkened sheds
Manual catching is associated with high wing fracture rates and significant bird distress
Mechanical catching machines use rotating rubber fingers to move birds to conveyors
Injury rates with mechanical systems can be lower than manual catching with trained operators
Machine speed must be calibrated to minimise injury from drum contacts
Stocking density affects ease of mechanical catching - overcrowded houses increase injury risk
Operator training on machine use and bird welfare significantly affects outcomes
CCTV during catching operations enables welfare monitoring and accountability

Welfare Considerations

Broiler catching is one of the highest welfare-risk events in chicken production, occurring for every bird at slaughter. Manual catching causes wing fractures, dislocations and extreme fear responses. Mechanical systems have the potential to reduce these harms but require appropriate speed settings and regular maintenance. Poorly operated machines cause injuries equivalent to or worse than manual catching. The welfare case for mechanical catching is contingent on appropriate operation. CCTV monitoring during catching enables accountability that drives welfare improvement in both manual and mechanical systems.

What You Can Do

Support CCTV requirements during broiler catching operations
Advocate for mechanical catching adoption alongside mandatory welfare training
Choose chicken products from certified farms with documented catching welfare standards
Support research into optimal mechanical catching parameters for welfare
Engage with retailers about requiring catching welfare data from chicken suppliers