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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(22); 3122; doi: 10.3390/ani12223122

Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Broken (Handled) Horses on Arrival at Italian Slaughterhouses.

Abstract: During horse transportation, the journey conditions are considered a welfare risk. This study aimed to document journeys, journey conditions, and welfare status of handled horses on arrival at two different slaughterhouses in Northern and Southern Italy, to find possible associations between journey conditions and welfare problems. The welfare status of 613 draft-breed and light-breed horses from 32 different journeys was evaluated on arrival at the slaughterhouses with a standardized protocol, using animal-based (ABMs) and environmental-based (EBMs) measures. The drivers’ skills and vehicle characteristics were found to be mostly compliant with EC 1/2005. The horses traveled in single bays, 90° to the direction of travel for an average journey duration of 26.5 ± 14 h. On arrival at the slaughterhouses, the horses were unloaded by handlers, via halter and rope. The prevalence of reluctance to unload, injuries, nasal, and lacrimal discharge was 22.2%, 24.6%, 11.6%, and 10%, respectively. Journey duration, unloading duration, vehicle changes, long stops, handlers/drivers’ skills, temperature, season, and horse individual characteristics were associated with horses’ welfare and health status (all p < 0.05). Our study confirms the hypothesis that appropriate journey conditions are of crucial importance to safeguard the welfare of broken/handled horses transported over long distances for slaughter.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-12 PubMed ID: 36428350PubMed Central: PMC9686993DOI: 10.3390/ani12223122Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article considers the journey conditions for horses being transported to slaughtering facilities in Italy, assessing whether these conditions can lead to adverse health and welfare outcomes. The researchers found significant associations between elements of the journey, such as duration, change of vehicle, long stops, and the skills of the handlers/drivers, and the subsequent health and well-being status of the horses.

Methodology

  • The study involved the assessment of the welfare status of 613 horses, belonging to both draft-breed and light-breed, arriving at two slaughterhouses in the Northern and Southern regions of Italy.
  • The researchers used a standardized protocol that incorporated both animal-based measures (ABMs) and environmental-based measures (EBMs).
  • While on the journey, the horses were transported in single bays, set perpendicular to the direction of movement. The average duration of the journey was approximately 26.5 hours with a standard deviation of 14 hours.
  • The study also evaluated the ability of the personnel in charge of transporting the animals (the drivers), checking their skills and the charateristics of the vehicle against the standards laid out in European Council regulation EC 1/2005.

Findings

  • On arrival at the slaughterhouses, the horses were unloaded with help from handlers using a halter and rope.
  • On average, about 22.2% of the horses exhibited reluctance to unload, 24.6% had injuries, 11.6% had nasal discharge, and 10% had lacrimal (tear) discharge.
  • There was evidence that the welfare and health of the horses was significantly impacted by several factors related to their journey, including the length of their journey, duration of unloading, a change of vehicle during transportation, extended breaks, the skills of the handlers/drivers, ambient temperature and season, and individual characteristics of the horses (with a significance level less than 0.05).

Overall Conclusion

  • Ultimately, the study demonstrates that journey conditions significantly affect the well-being of horses being transported for slaughter. Therefore, maintaining proper conditions during transportation is crucial to safeguard their welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Felici M, Nanni Costa L, Zappaterra M, Bozzo G, Di Pinto P, Minero M, Padalino B. (2022). Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Broken (Handled) Horses on Arrival at Italian Slaughterhouses. Animals (Basel), 12(22), 3122. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223122

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 22
PII: 3122

Researcher Affiliations

Felici, Martina
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Nanni Costa, Leonardo
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Zappaterra, Martina
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Bozzo, Giancarlo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, 70010 Valenzano, Italy.
Di Pinto, Pietro
  • ASL BA-Local Health Authority Veterinary Service, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Minero, Michela
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • PadalinoAA2020 / Animals' Angels
  • PadalinoWHW2020 / World Horse Welfare

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Fletcher KA, Limon G, Padalino B, Hall GK, Chancellor N, Grist A, Gibson TJ. Impact of Social Buffering and Restraint on Welfare Indicators during UK Commercial Horse Slaughter. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 12;13(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13142276pubmed: 37508053google scholar: lookup
  2. Padalino B, Benedetti B, Felici M, Bicout DJ. GLAD Scale for Ranking Welfare of Horses on Arrival after Transport to Slaughterhouses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 25;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13091465pubmed: 37174502google scholar: lookup
  3. Fletcher KA, Padalino B, Felici M, Bigi D, Limon-Vega G, Grist A, Gibson TJ. Assessment of ante mortem welfare indicators and the pathophysiology of captive-bolt trauma in equids at slaughter. Anim Welf 2024;33:e65.
    doi: 10.1017/awf.2024.70pubmed: 39777369google scholar: lookup
  4. Fletcher K, Limon G, Agongo E, Akunzule A, Essel G, Padalino B, Grist A, Gibson TJ. Assessment of Donkey (Equus asinus) Welfare at Slaughter in Ghana. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 19;14(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14243673pubmed: 39765577google scholar: lookup
  5. Bruschetta G, Zanghì G, Giunta RP, Ferlazzo AM, Satué K, D'Ascola A, Fazio E. Short Road Transport and Slaughter Stress Affects the Expression Profile of Serotonin Receptors, Adrenocortical, and Hematochemical Responses in Horses. Vet Sci 2024 Mar 3;11(3).
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