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Humane end-of-life management of broilers: catching, crating and loading
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05 August 2026

Ensuring humane end of life management for broilers is crucial for animal welfare and industry efficiency. The process of catching, crating, and loading broilers for slaughter is a critical stage that can cause significant stress and injuries. This chapter summarises studies on different loading methods, including manual catching and mechanical loading, comparing their effects on animal welfare, worker conditions, and economic feasibility. Although manual catching is still widely used, mechanical loading, which is common practice for example in Scandinavian countries, offers welfare advantages by minimising human contact, but adoption is hindered by economic and logistical barriers. Legislative frameworks, such as EU regulations, aim to improve handling practices, but challenges remain in implementation. The chapter further discusses and summarises injury rates, stress responses, and farmer perspectives on loading practices. Improving training, refining mechanical systems, and optimising handling techniques are essential for balancing efficiency and welfare concerns in broiler production.
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Legislation and recommendations for catching and loading
- 3 Possible methods and perceptions of farmers
- 4 Manual catching: different methods
- 5 Mechanical loading systems
- 6 Loading-related stress reactions
- 7 Loading-related injuries
- 8 Factors impacting loading quality or loading-related injuries
- 9 Loading staff: issues to consider
- 10 Crating
- 11 Conclusion
- 12 Summary
- 13 Where to look for further information
- 14 References