Abstract

Transportation represents a major threat to the welfare of poultry; therefore, there is considerable pressure to improve conditions to safeguard animal welfare [1]. According to the European Food Safety Authority, more broilers are transported than any other species, which means that any welfare problems during broiler transportation can affect huge numbers of animals [2]. Over twenty years ago, CIWF Trust’s report The Welfare at Slaughter of Broiler Chickens raised serious welfare concerns about the slaughter process, and these concerns continue to be just as relevant today [3]. According to Mitchell [1], the major production problems associated with the transportation of broilers in the 21st century are birds “deadon- arrival” at the abattoir (DOA), poor welfare and reduced meat quality. Transportation of broilers has been emphasized as a welfare problem [2], and it involves one of the biggest movements of live animals in the world. It can be performed under different conditions and combinations of distances, times and types of routes, which have direct impact on the quality of the final product, and will most often be responsible for DOA and condemnation of carcasses due to injuries.