Farm Animal Welfare

Poultry Catching and Transportation Welfare

The catching and transport of poultry from rearing to slaughter represents a major welfare risk point with high injury rates that require systematic improvement.

Key Facts

Catching injuries including wing fractures affect up to 10% of broilers in some operations
Mechanical catching machines cause lower injury rates than manual catching
Heat stress during transport is a leading cause of poultry mortality in summer
Journey times exceeding 8 hours significantly increase stress and mortality
Pre-slaughter lairage conditions profoundly affect welfare and meat quality

Welfare Considerations

The catching and transport phase causes some of the highest levels of injury and distress in the entire poultry production cycle. Mechanical catching, careful driver training, and vehicle standards that prevent heat stress can dramatically reduce this welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Support certification schemes with specific catching and transport welfare requirements
Advocate for limits on poultry journey times and mandatory vehicle monitoring
Choose poultry from producers with mechanical catching and welfare-audited transport