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

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Many horses are transported each year to slaughterhouses worldwide and are exposed to journey conditions that can be hazardous and detrimental to their welfare. In this study, hypothesizing that journey conditions would affect the welfare of broken/handled horses traveling toward slaughterhouses, the journey conditions and welfare status of horses on arrival at two slaughterhouses in Italy were described. Injuries (151/613 horses, 24.6%), reluctance to unload (136/613, 22.2%), and nasal (71/612, 11.6%) and lacrimal (62/613, 10.1%) discharges were the most common welfare problems, while journey duration, unloading duration, stopping at control posts, vehicle changes, traveling tied, poor driving experience, improper handling (i.e., beating with sticks), season, arrival temperature, and horse characteristics (i.e., age, BCS, long coat) were their risk factors (i.e., hazards). Our findings could be useful to provide evidence for the policymakers to implement current regulations on the protection of the welfare of horses during transport. 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.