The catching and transport of broiler chickens to slaughter is a high-risk welfare period, with significant rates of injury, distress and mortality occurring during this phase of the production system.
Catching and transport represents an intense welfare event in the lives of broiler chickens. Birds that have never been handled are suddenly caught, inverted, loaded into crates and transported. The welfare harm of this phase - through injury, fear, thermal stress and mortality - is substantial but largely preventable through better equipment, training, journey time limits and monitoring.