Poultry Catching Welfare: Evidence-Based Improvements at Depopulation

The catching and loading of poultry for transport to slaughter is one of the highest-risk welfare periods for commercial chickens, with evidence supporting significant improvements through mechanical catching and training.

Key Facts

Manual catching of broiler chickens involves picking birds up by one leg in dimly lit houses
Injury rates during manual catching include dislocations, fractures, and haemorrhage
Mechanical harvesting machines reduce bird injury by approximately 50% compared to manual catching
Trained catching teams with welfare-specific guidance significantly reduce injury rates
Night-time catching reduces stress responses compared to daytime operations

Welfare Considerations

Poultry catching at depopulation causes acute pain and distress through improper handling, with birds caught by a single leg experiencing joint and muscle injury during loading. The rushed conditions of commercial catching operations prioritise throughput over individual bird welfare, creating high injury rates. Mechanical harvesting machines scoop and convey birds horizontally with less acute handling stress and fewer injuries. Training catching teams in correct handling technique and welfare outcomes, combined with night-time operations that exploit the species reduced reactivity in darkness, produces measurable welfare improvements without capital investment.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mechanical harvesting equipment requirements in poultry welfare codes
Support compulsory catching team welfare training in poultry farm assurance schemes
Choose poultry products from producers with documented catching welfare protocols
Engage with processors on catching team training requirements in their procurement standards
Support research into catching equipment and techniques that further reduce injury rates