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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(16); 2083; doi: 10.3390/ani12162083

Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Unbroken (Unhandled) Horses on Arrival at a Slaughterhouse in Italy.

Abstract: Transportation of horses to slaughterhouses can pose a welfare concern, in particular when horses are unbroken/unhandled. This study aimed to describe their journeys and journey conditions, document their welfare status on arrival in a slaughterhouse in Italy, and investigate possible associations between journey conditions and welfare issues. A total of 395 unbroken draft horses in 20 different consignments were assessed with a standardized protocol. The most common departure point (16/20 consignments, 80%) was a French assembly center, but many of these horses had Spanish passports, suggesting they had previously been transported from Spain to France. The average journey duration was 34 ± 14 h, including journey breaks (i.e., short stops inside the vehicle and long resting stops at control posts), while transit time was 24 ± 4 h. The drivers were well experienced, the trucks were well equipped (i.e., forced ventilation, drinkers), and the horses traveled loose in small groups (n ≤ 4 horses) within pens inside the vehicle. On arrival at the slaughterhouse, the horses self-unloaded and showed minimal behavioral and health problems. The prevalence of injuries, diarrhea/abnormal feces, and nasal discharge were 1.52%, 6.58%, and 4.30%, respectively. Cold temperatures, space allowance, and lack of feeding during transport were found to be the main hazards of those problems (all p < 0.05). Our findings confirm that the correct assessment of the fitness for transport, adequate journey conditions, and experienced staff are crucial factors to safeguard the welfare of unbroken horses during long journeys.
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Publication Date: 2022-08-15 PubMed ID: 36009673PubMed Central: PMC9404719DOI: 10.3390/ani12162083Google 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 study investigates the welfare status of unhandled horses during their transport and upon arrival at a slaughterhouse in Italy. The research reveals that the horses, coming primarily from a French assembly center, exhibited few behavioral and health issues even after an average journey time of 34 hours, including breaks. However, cold temperatures, inadequate space, and lack of feeding were identified as key issues impacting the horses’ welfare during transportation.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The purpose of this research is to study the welfare status of unbroken horses (horses that have not been trained or handled) during their transport to slaughterhouses, along their journey conditions, and their status upon reaching the destination.
  • To conduct this research, a sample of 395 unbroken draft horses transported across 20 different consignments was assessed using a standardized protocol focusing on a number of factors including health symptoms like injuries and abnormal feces, journey conditions like space allowance, feeding schedules, and temperatures, and features of the transport vehicles.

Research Findings

  • A significant majority (80%) of these horses were transported from a French assembly center, however, many held Spanish passports, indicating they had originally been transported from Spain to France.
  • The average total journey duration was 34 hours, inclusive of journey breaks (short stops within the vehicle and longer rests at control posts), while transit time, or time spent on the move, was about 24 hours.
  • Most drivers were found to be experienced, the trucks adequately equipped with forced ventilation systems and drinking facilities, and the horses traveled loose in small groups within pens in the vehicles.
  • After arriving at the slaughterhouse in Italy, the horses unloaded themselves and showed minimal signs of behavioral or health problems.
  • The study revealed a relatively low occurrence of injuries (1.52%), diarrhea or abnormal feces (6.58%), and nasal discharge (4.30%) among the samples.

Key Issues and Conclusions

  • Cold transportation temperatures, inadequate space allowances, and lack of feeding during the travel were found to be the primary hazards affecting the horses’ welfare (all p-values were less than 0.05, indicating a statistically significant influence).
  • The research concludes that correct assessment of the horses’ fitness for transport, adequate journey conditions, and experienced staff are essential factors to ensure the welfare of unbroken horses during these long journeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Zappaterra M, Nanni Costa L, Felici M, Minero M, Perniola F, Tullio D, Padalino B. (2022). Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Unbroken (Unhandled) Horses on Arrival at a Slaughterhouse in Italy. Animals (Basel), 12(16), 2083. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12162083

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 16
PII: 2083

Researcher Affiliations

Zappaterra, Martina
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Nanni Costa, Leonardo
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Felici, Martina
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Minero, Michela
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan, 20122 Milano, Italy.
Perniola, Francesco
  • Veterinary Clinic 'La Fenice', 70029 Santeramo in Colle, Italy.
Tullio, Daniele
  • ASL BA-Local Health Authority Veterinary Service, Via dei Mille 29, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy.

Grant Funding

  • PadalinoWHW / World Horse Welfare
  • PadalinoAnimalsAngels2020 / Animals' Angels

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. 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).
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  2. Felici M, Nanni Costa L, Zappaterra M, Bozzo G, Di Pinto P, Minero M, Padalino B. Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Broken (Handled) Horses on Arrival at Italian Slaughterhouses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 12;12(22).
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  3. Riva MG, Sobrero L, Menchetti L, Minero M, Padalino B, Dalla Costa E. Unhandled horses classified with broken/unbroken test (BUT) exhibit longer avoidance, flight reactions, and displacement behaviors when approached by humans.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1022255.
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