Welfare of horses during killing for purposes other than slaughter.
Abstract: Horses of different ages may have to be killed on-farm for purposes other than slaughter (where slaughter is defined as killing for human consumption) either individually (i.e. on-farm killing of unproductive, injured or terminally ill animals) or on a large-scale (i.e. depopulation for disease control purposes and other situations, such as environmental contamination, disaster management, etc.). The purpose of this opinion is to assess the hazards and welfare consequences associated with the on-farm killing of horses. The killing procedure is divided into Phase 1 (pre-killing), which includes the processes (i) handling and moving the animals to the killing place and (ii) restraint of the animals before application of the killing method; and Phase 2 (stunning and/or killing), which includes stunning and killing of the animals (for methods that require one step for stunning and another for subsequent killing) or killing only (for methods that simultaneously stun and kill the animals). Three stunning and/or killing methods for Phase 2 for horses were identified: (i) penetrative captive bolt followed by killing, (ii) firearms with free projectiles and (iii) lethal injection. Welfare consequences that horses may experience during each process (e.g. handling stress, restriction of movement and injuries during restraint) were identified and potential hazards are listed for all phases, along with preventive and corrective measures. Animal-based measures (ABMs) to assess all identified welfare consequences were proposed. During the application of the stunning and/or killing methods, horses will experience pain and fear if they are ineffectively stunned/killed or if they recover consciousness. A flowchart including ABMs for the assessment of consciousness and death to monitor stunning and killing effectiveness is provided. Additionally, specific practices deemed unacceptable on welfare grounds are listed.
© 2025 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.
Publication Date: 2025-01-28 PubMed ID: 39877302PubMed Central: PMC11773343DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9195Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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.
The research article aims to assess the welfare implications and potential hazards involved in the on-farm killing of horses for reasons other than human consumption, using methods such as captive bolt, firearms with free projectiles, and lethal injection. The research also recommends various preventive and corrective measures to mitigate these hazards.
Process Outlined in the Study
- The study breaks down the killing procedures into two phases: pre-killing, which involves the handling, moving, and restraint of the horses, and stunning and/or killing, which includes the application of the killing method.
- In Phase 1, the welfare implications may include stress from handling, restriction of movement, and potential injuries during restraint.
- Phase 2 differentiates methods that stun the animal prior to killing from those that simultaneously stun and kill the animal.
Methods of Stunning and Killing
- Penetrative captive bolt followed by killing: This method first renders the horse unconscious before being killed.
- Firearms (with free projectiles): In this method, firearms are used as a means of stunning or killing the horses.
- Lethal injection: Here, the use of drugs is employed to induce death in horses.
Welfare Consequences and Hazards
- The research identifies various welfare consequences that horses may experience during each step of these processes.
- During the application of the noted stunning and/or killing methods, horses may experience pain and fear, especially if they are ineffectively stunned or killed, or if they recover consciousness.
Preventative and Corrective Measures
- The study suggests several preventive and corrective measures to reduce these hazards and improve the welfare of the horses during the process.
- The measures are targeted at the identified hazards, including ABMs (Animal-based measures) for monitoring the effectiveness of stunning and killing, as well as the consciousness and death of the animals.
Unacceptable Practices
- The research also provides a list of specific practices it deems unacceptable on welfare grounds.
Cite This Article
APA
Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Boklund A, Dippel S, Dorea F, Figuerola J, Herskin M, Miranda Chueca MA, Nannoni E, Nonno R, Riber A, Stahl K, Stegeman JA, Thulke HH, Tuyttens F, Winckler C, Raj M, Velarde A, Candiani D, Van der Stede Y, Michel V.
(2025).
Welfare of horses during killing for purposes other than slaughter.
EFSA J, 23(1), e9195.
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9195 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
References
This article includes 60 references
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
