Transport of live poultry is a major welfare event - duration, temperature, handling, and stocking density during transit are critical welfare determinants.
Poultry transport welfare is a neglected but significant issue. The catching process before loading - grabbing and inverting birds by their legs - causes fear, stress, and musculoskeletal injuries. Modern mechanical catching reduces some direct injury but does not eliminate fear and stress responses. Journey duration matters: longer journeys without water or feed access cause dehydration and metabolic stress. Temperature management in transit is critical. Slaughterhouse arrival monitoring of DOA rates provides a welfare outcome measure, though better monitoring and transparent reporting would improve accountability.