22 Jun 2026

Broiler lifting day: The hours that often decide the outcome

One important stage in the production cycle often escapes the same level of attention - broiler lifting.

A. Ashraf Ali

SAVE IN THE LIBRARY PDF FILE

For most poultry producers, success is measured in feed conversion, body weight, livability and market returns. Yet one important stage in the production cycle often escapes the same level of attention – broiler lifting. Although it occupies only a few hours, it can influence bird welfare, product quality and profitability.

Once birds leave the poultry house, the emphasis shifts from production to logistics. Careful planning, gentle handling and timely transportation become just as important as the management practices that produced the flock. A delay in loading, rough handling or poor coordination can quickly erode the value created over weeks of successful farming.

Two markets, two logistics models

Few countries have a poultry marketing system quite like India. The vast majority of broilers are still sold through the traditional live bird channel, while organized processing represents a much smaller share of the market.

In the organized processing sector, responsibility for birds generally remains with the integrator until they reach the processing plant. Lifting schedules, transport and delivery are aligned with plant requirements. In the live bird market, birds are usually sold at the farm gate and responsibility then shifts to traders or wholesalers, who organize lifting and transport to wholesale markets and retailers.

Although the commercial models differ, both depend on careful handling, efficient loading and reliable transport. Stress, delays and poor coordination can reduce returns for everyone involved.

When planning meets reality

Continue after advertising.

Anyone who has spent time on a broiler farm during lifting knows that the schedule prepared during the day rarely survives the night unchanged. A truck may arrive late after completing another assignment, a catching crew may need more time than expected or road congestion may delay transport.

Good communication often makes the difference between a smooth operation and a difficult one. Farm supervisors, transport coordinators, traders and buyers must work from the same plan. A missed phone call or misunderstanding can disrupt an entire lifting program.

Summer creates additional challenges. High temperatures make evening or early morning lifting preferable and increase the importance of ventilation, loading density and journey time. Skilled labour is equally important. Experienced crews reduce stress and injuries while maintaining efficiency, making training an investment rather than an expense.

Technology supports better decisions

Technology is steadily improving broiler lifting operations. GPS-enabled fleet tracking, digital weighing systems and mobile communication help managers monitor vehicle movement, assess flock readiness and respond quickly when plans change.

Artificial intelligence is likely to add value by supporting planning rather than replacing people. By analysing flock growth, transport availability and processing schedules, AI can help optimise lifting times and vehicle allocation. Automation, including mechanical bird-catching equipment and automated crate handling, is also attracting attention, particularly in larger processing operations seeking greater consistency and reduced labour dependence.

Even with these advances, successful lifting still depends on planning ahead, communicating clearly and treating birds with care. A broiler may spend more than a month growing on the farm, but the final few hours before it reaches the market or processing plant can have a lasting influence on its value. Good lifting practices protect bird welfare, minimize losses and support better business outcomes for farmers, traders and processors alike. In a competitive industry, paying attention to those final hours is not just good logistics – it is good business.