Eyes on Animals gave an online presentation today about her upright chicken catching project to the Ministry of Agriculture of Lower Saxony and representatives from the German poultry industry. By showcasing videos of upright catching and loading at several farms in the Netherlands, we demonstrated that this method (despite industry objections) is feasible and significantly reduces stress compared to the conventional upside-down method.
During today’s meeting, other presentations were also delivered, including one by the University of Rostock, which conducted a study comparing machine catching versus manual catching by two legs. Their research revealed more injuries among birds caught by machines, particularly on the wings, highlighting the need for improvements in this method as well.
Additionally, Kipster, one of the pioneering poultry farms to adopt upright catching, shared their positive experiences. They also provided insights into how to enhance chicken accessibility, thereby improving speed and labor efficiency.
