A collaborative effort among academics, poultry producers, and welfare organizations has marked the commencement of an extensive three-year study focused on poultry catching and handling methods.
The £500,000 initiative, led by the Scottish Rural College (SRUC) and the University of Bristol, aims to advance the welfare of farmed birds throughout Britain. This project involves collecting data from over 100 commercial poultry flocks and is supported by the Humane Slaughter Association and a specialized poultry veterinary consultant to establish best practices in poultry welfare.
Commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the study will evaluate the handling process faced by poultry during transitions between housing systems and prior to slaughter.
Investigating Handling Techniques
The research will compare two primary methods of handling poultry: lifting them by the legs versus catching them in an upright position. By analyzing both approaches, the study aims to determine their respective impacts on processing duration and overall bird welfare.
Importance of Training
Initially focused on broilers, layers, and pullets, the project will also include the training of crew members responsible for catching and handling across all participating farms.
Dr. Vicky Sandilands, the lead researcher at SRUC, emphasized the significance of maintaining high animal welfare standards within agricultural practices. “We appreciate Defra’s support for this investigation into the effects of catching and handling on chickens. Our teams at SRUC, including the Monogastric Innovation Centre and Animal Behaviour and Welfare units, are eager to collaborate with the University of Bristol and the Humane Slaughter Association to provide valuable insights into optimal catching and handling techniques for poultry welfare,” she stated.
Regulatory Changes on Animal Handling
This research follows a UK government consultation earlier this year regarding potential amendments to the methodologies permitted for poultry handling. The consultation, which concluded in May, received 103 responses.
In June, the government indicated that changes would be made to legislation allowing chickens and turkeys to be lifted by their legs, aligning with existing statutory guidance in Great Britain. Furthermore, it emphasized that chickens and turkeys weighing 5 kg or less should not be caught, lifted, or carried by a single leg while turkeys over 5 kg must not be lifted or carried inverted, irrespective of the handling method used.
