Survey of horse transportation in Australia: issues and practices.
Abstract: To survey amateur and professional participants on equine transportation management, practices and outcomes in Australia. Methods: An online survey targeting people who organised horse movements at least monthly was made available to a broad cross-section of amateur and professional equine associations. Respondents were invited to provide demographic details and information relating to their routine transportation management practices and their experiences of issues relating to the transportation of horses. Results: Of 797 usable responses involving approximately 17,000 horses and 313,000 individual horse transport events, transport-related behavioural problems were reported by 38% of respondents, particularly at loading. Transport-related health problems had been experienced during or after transportation by horses in the care of 67% of respondents. The most common problems reported were traumatic injuries (45.0%), diarrhoea (20.0%), muscular problems (13.0%), respiratory problems (12.3%), overheating (10.5%) and colic (10.3%). In the 2 years reviewed in the survey, 9.4% of participants reported at least one case of transport-associated pneumonia and 35 horses had died, most commonly from fractures, colic or pneumonia. Although respondents identifying as amateurs transported horses less frequently and over shorter distances, the incidence of transport-related problems was similar between amateurs and professionals. Respondents reported specific precautions before, during and after transportation, although management was often not compliant with the Australian Code of horse transportation. Conclusions: Responses indicated that there remains a substantial risk of adverse welfare and health outcomes for horses transported in Australia and management practices reported may not be compliant with current recommendations for transportation.
© 2016 Australian Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2016-09-28 PubMed ID: 27671078DOI: 10.1111/avj.12486Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article presents a survey-based study investigating the issues and practices related to horse transportation in Australia, highlighting the significant risk of adverse health and welfare outcomes for transported horses.
Study Methodology
- The research was conducted through an online survey, targeting individuals who manage horse movements on a regular basis, at least once a month.
- Participants included a diverse range of amateur and professional equine associations.
- The survey collected demographic details of the respondents, info on their routine transportation practices, and experiences of problems related to horse transportation.
Results of the Study
- Out of the 797 valid responses, encompassing roughly 17,000 horses and 313,000 individual horse transport events, transport-related behavioral issues were reported by 38% of participants, especially during the loading process.
- 67% of respondents mentioned that their horses had suffered health issues during or post transport.
- The health problems most frequently noted included traumatic injuries (45.0%), diarrhea (20.0%), muscular problems (13.0%), respiratory issues (12.3%), overheating (10.5%), and colic (10.3%).
- Within the two-year timespan analysed in the survey, 9.4% of participants had encountered at least one instance of transport-associated pneumonia and 35 horses had died, most often from fractures, colic or pneumonia.
Comparison Between Amateurs and Professionals
- The study found that although amateurs transported horses less frequently and over shorter distances compared to professionals, the incidence of transport-related problems was comparable between the two groups.
Transportation Precautions and Guidelines
- The respondents mentioned various precautions taken before, during and after the transportation process, however, the application of these measures frequently did not align with the Australian Code of horse transportation.
Conclusions
- Based on the responses, the researchers concluded that there remains a substantial risk for horses’ health and welfare during transportation in Australia.
- The report also notes the observed management practices might not be compliant with the current guidelines and recommendations for horse transportation.
Cite This Article
APA
Padalino B, Raidal SL, Hall E, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G.
(2016).
Survey of horse transportation in Australia: issues and practices.
Aust Vet J, 94(10), 349-357.
https://doi.org/10.1111/avj.12486 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden 2570, New South Wales, Australia. barbara.padalino@sydney.edu.au.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Bari, Italy. barbara.padalino@sydney.edu.au.
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia. barbara.padalino@sydney.edu.au.
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden 2570, New South Wales, Australia.
- DSM Nutritional Products, Animal Nutrition and Health, Columbia, MD, USA.
- Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Discipline of Biomedical Science, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden 2570, New South Wales, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, 425 Werombi Road, Camden 2570, New South Wales, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Aged
- Animal Husbandry / methods
- Animals
- Australia / epidemiology
- Behavior, Animal
- Colic / epidemiology
- Colic / veterinary
- Diarrhea / epidemiology
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Female
- Heat Stress Disorders / epidemiology
- Heat Stress Disorders / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Humans
- Middle Aged
- Pneumonia / epidemiology
- Pneumonia / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Surveys and Questionnaires
- Transportation
- Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Riley CB, Padalino B, Rogers CW, Thompson KR. Human Injuries Associated with the Transport of Horses by Road.. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 10;13(10).
- Chaucheyras-Durand F, Sacy A, Karges K, Apper E. Gastro-Intestinal Microbiota in Equines and Its Role in Health and Disease: The Black Box Opens.. Microorganisms 2022 Dec 19;10(12).
- Carroll SL, Sykes BW, Mills PC. Moving toward Fear-Free Husbandry and Veterinary Care for Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 24;12(21).
- Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Álvarez-Ordóñez A, Bolton D, Bover-Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Argüello-Rodríguez H, Dohmen W, Magistrali CF, Padalino B, Tenhagen BA, Threlfall J, García-Fierro R, Guerra B, Liébana E, Stella P, Peixe L. Transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during animal transport.. EFSA J 2022 Oct;20(10):e07586.
- Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar Schmidt C, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Earley B, Edwards S, Faucitano L, Marti S, Miranda de La Lama GC, Costa LN, Thomsen PT, Ashe S, Mur L, Van der Stede Y, Herskin M. Welfare of equidae during transport.. EFSA J 2022 Sep;20(9):e07444.
- Zappaterra M, Nanni Costa L, Felici M, Minero M, Perniola F, Tullio D, Padalino B. Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Unbroken (Unhandled) Horses on Arrival at a Slaughterhouse in Italy.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 15;12(16).
- Riley CB, Rogers CW, Thompson KR, Guiver D, Padalino B. A Survey-Based Analysis of Injuries to Horses Associated with Transport by Road in New Zealand.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jan 21;12(3).
- Chapman M, Thomas M, Thompson K. What People Really Think About Safety around Horses: The Relationship between Risk Perception, Values and Safety Behaviours.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 26;10(12).
- Padalino B, Davis GL, Raidal SL. Effects of transportation on gastric pH and gastric ulceration in mares.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Mar;34(2):922-932.
- Padalino B, Rogers CW, Guiver D, Thompson KR, Riley CB. A Survey-Based Investigation of Human Factors Associated With Transport Related Injuries in Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:294.
- Padalino B, Rogers CW, Guiver D, Bridges JP, Riley CB. Risk Factors for Transport-Related Problem Behaviors in Horses: A New Zealand Survey.. Animals (Basel) 2018 Aug 2;8(8).
- York A, Matusiewicz J, Padalino B. How to minimise the incidence of transport-related problem behaviours in horses: a review.. J Equine Sci 2017;28(3):67-75.
- Padalino B, Raidal SL, Hall E, Knight P, Celi P, Jeffcott L, Muscatello G. A Survey on Transport Management Practices Associated with Injuries and Health Problems in Horses.. PLoS One 2016;11(9):e0162371.
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