Farm Animal Welfare

Broiler Chicken Catching and Loading: End-of-Life Welfare

The catching and loading of broiler chickens for transport to slaughter is a high-risk welfare point involving handling of large numbers of birds rapidly, often causing injuries.

Key Facts

Approximately 1 billion broiler chickens are processed in the UK each year
Mechanical harvesting machines catch and load chickens in large-scale operations
Manual catching involves teams working at high speed in dark sheds - a physically demanding job
Injury rates during catching include dislocations, bruising and broken wings
Welfare during catching is affected by catching speed, handler training and equipment design

Welfare Considerations

Catching and loading is one of the most welfare-critical points in broiler production. The combination of darkness, rapid handling, novel stimuli and physical manipulation causes acute fear and injury. Best practice includes trained handlers, mechanical assistance, appropriate speed limits and post-catching inspection. Improving catching welfare requires investment in training, equipment and monitoring.

What You Can Do

Choose chicken products from farms with catching welfare protocols
Support investment in mechanical catching technology that reduces injury rates
Advocate for mandatory training standards for poultry catching operatives
Learn about the end-of-life welfare challenges in commercial poultry production