Farm Animals

Broiler Chicken Catching and Loading Welfare

Manual catching and mechanical loading of broilers before transport is one of the highest-risk welfare periods in their production cycle.

Key Facts

Approximately 15% of broilers sustain injuries during catching and loading operations
Night catching under low-light conditions reduces fear response compared to daytime operations
Mechanical harvesting systems with lower injury rates are available but not widely adopted
Wing fractures during catching cause acute pain during subsequent transport and slaughter
Training catching crews in handling technique significantly reduces injury rates

Welfare Considerations

Catching represents a sudden and intense welfare event for broilers that have had minimal human contact. Skilled, calm catching in appropriate conditions with properly trained staff minimises one of the most significant acute welfare events in broiler production.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes monitoring catching injury rates
Advocate for adoption of mechanical harvesting systems that reduce manual handling injuries
Choose retailers committed to supply chain welfare standards including catching protocols
Encourage investment in pre-harvest welfare monitoring in broiler certification