Farm Animals

Farm Animal: Broiler Catching and Loading Welfare

The catching and loading of broilers for transport to slaughter is a high-welfare-risk procedure, with injuries and stress concentrated in this brief but critical phase.

Key Facts

UK produces around 1 billion broiler chickens annually
Catching typically involves mechanical catchers or manual catching teams working at night
Bird injuries from catching include wing fractures, bruising and haemorrhage
High-speed mechanical catchers process more birds but can cause more injuries than skilled catching teams
Catching is often contracted and outside direct farm control raising welfare oversight gaps

Welfare Considerations

Catching and loading is a welfare flashpoint - birds experience handling stress, potential injury and transport heat or cold all within a short window. Training and monitoring of catching crews is essential. Mechanical catching must be calibrated to minimise injury rates in each flock.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards requiring catching crew training and oversight
Advocate for injury monitoring and reporting from catching operations
Choose poultry from supply chains with transparent catching welfare audits
Support development of gentler mechanical catching technology