Catching broilers for transport to slaughter is physically demanding and welfare-critical for both the birds and the workers performing the task.
Broiler catching is a welfare-critical point in the production chain where both birds and workers are at risk. The time pressure of commercial catching operations creates incentives that conflict directly with welfare. Birds thrown or handled roughly sustain injuries that cause pain during the remaining hours of their lives. Workers performing repetitive, physically demanding catching under time pressure sustain musculoskeletal injuries that affect their long-term health. Welfare improvements that reduce bird injury also tend to reduce worker injury.