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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Journeys, journey conditions, and welfare assessment of broken (handled) horses on arrival at Italian slaughterhouses
Animals, Vol.12(22), pp.1-29
12/11/2022
PMCID: PMC9686993
PMID: 36428350
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Source: InCites
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.
Details
- Title
- Journeys, journey conditions, and welfare assessment of broken (handled) horses on arrival at Italian slaughterhouses
- Creators
- Martina Felici - University of BolognaLeonardo Nanni Costa - University of BolognaMartina Zappaterra - University of BolognaGiancarlo Bozzo - University of Bari Aldo MoroPietro Di Pinto - Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 3Michela Minero - University of MilanBarbara Padalino - University of Bologna
- Publication Details
- Animals, Vol.12(22), pp.1-29
- Publisher
- MDPI
- Number of pages
- 29
- Grant note
- PadalinoAA2020; PadalinoWHW2020 / Animals' Angels and World Horse Welfare
- Identifiers
- 991013293548602368
- Copyright
- © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article