Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Heat Stress During Transport

Transporting poultry in hot conditions causes severe heat stress, mortality, and suffering. Understanding thermal management is key to better outcomes.

Key Facts

Broiler mortality during summer transport can reach 0.5-2% per journey
Heat stress above 32 degrees C causes panting, wing spreading, and collapse
Pre-transport feed withdrawal combined with heat compounds stress significantly
Ventilated vehicles with forced airflow reduce mortality by up to 60%
Dawn and dusk transport scheduling avoids peak daily temperatures

Welfare Considerations

Heat stress during poultry transport is among the most acute welfare crises in commercial farming. Birds suffer rapid physiological deterioration, with death rates spiking in summer months. Regulatory standards often lag behind evidence on safe transport temperatures.

What You Can Do

Support retailers sourcing from farms with temperature-monitored transport
Advocate for mandatory real-time thermal monitoring in poultry vehicles
Choose suppliers committed to dawn-scheduled summer transport
Contact food companies about their poultry transport welfare standards