The catching, loading and transport of poultry to slaughter is one of the highest-risk welfare periods in commercial poultry production. Improving practices can dramatically reduce injuries and mortality.
The catching and loading process at end of production imposes acute welfare costs on birds that have been farmed for their entire lives without significant physical handling. The sudden transition from pen environment to mechanical catching or manual handling causes extreme fear and injury risk. Wing and hip dislocations during catching cause acute pain for birds that may then be transported for hours with untreated injuries. The catching environment - dark sheds with bright catchers' torches, loud noise from machinery and personnel - maximises fear responses. Mechanical catching systems reduce some injury types but introduce others. Catching team training, equipment maintenance and genuine welfare monitoring during catching are essential but frequently inadequate.