The catching and loading of poultry for slaughter transport is a high-risk welfare event requiring trained staff and gentle handling to minimise injury and stress.
Catching is one of the highest welfare-risk points in poultry production. Birds are handled by unfamiliar people in stressful conditions after weeks of minimal human contact. Physical injuries during catching are common and go unrecorded. Fear response elevation causes muscle damage that appears as breast meat haemorrhage at slaughter. Welfare-focused catching protocols including trained catchers, reduced light levels, and calm working practices measurably reduce injury rates.