Poultry Farming

Poultry Catching and Loading Welfare at Slaughter

The catching and loading of broilers for slaughter transport is a high-stress, high-injury event requiring training and equipment improvements.

Key Facts

Manual catching involves grabbing birds by one or both legs causing wing and leg injuries
Mechanical harvesters can reduce injury rates compared to manual catching when well-managed
Night catching with reduced lighting reduces panic and stress during the process
Catching injuries including dislocations and broken bones affect welfare at slaughter
Stockperson training and monitoring reduces injury rates from manual catching

Welfare Considerations

Catching represents the most acute welfare event in broiler production outside slaughter itself. The speed at which large sheds must be cleared creates pressure that compromises care. Injuries caused during catching cause pain during the subsequent transport and lairage period. Night catching and slow, careful handling are achievable improvements that significantly reduce suffering.

What You Can Do

Support poultry welfare standards including catching injury monitoring requirements
Advocate for mandatory stockperson training in humane catching techniques
Choose chicken from farms with certified low injury rate catching practices