Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the 2 manual catching methods in terms of injuries and behavior. Throughout 12 loadings on practical farms with the same standard, 1 container each was caught using the one-legged (1LCM) and 1 using the two-legged catching method (2LCM). The animals were filmed during loading to evaluate their behavior and subsequently examined regarding injuries. Wing flapping was observed more frequently in broilers caught with the 1LCM than 2 LCM. Carrying animals with neighbors (1 neighbor: P < 0.001; 2 neighbors: P < 0.001) and a grasping position at or above the tarsal joint (P < 0.001; P < 0.054) reduced wing flapping in both methods. A short grasping duration (P = 0.004), settling the broilers into the crate (P = 0.005) and avoiding striking the broilers against the crate (P < 0.001) reduced the occurrence of wing flapping. About 1.1% of 1LCM and 0.43% of 2LCM broilers were diagnosed with an epiphysiolysis. Catching with the 1LCM (P = 0.042), loading in lower crates (low vs. middle: P = 0.005; low vs. high: P = 0.008), a longer catching duration (p = 0.025) and female broilers (P = 0.007) had a higher chance for epiphysiolysis. Broilers loaded in lower crates (P = 0.007) and ones which showed more wing flapping (P = 0.015) had a higher chance for hematomas. A higher loading duration led to a higher risk of hematomas (prevalence: 1.5%) and a prevalence of 1.0% of broilers with severe injury in 2LCM in a simultaneously performed study (mechanical loading vs. 2LCM), in which manual loadings of entire barns were evaluated. This may be caused by fatigue of the workers. In summary, the catching method or number of grasped legs is not the decisive factor, but the compliance and implementation of the identified risks and careful handling of the animals are determining factors to reduce wing injuries caused by loading and wing flapping.