Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter.
Authors: Božić Jovanović Vesna, Trailović Ružica, Vićić Ivan, Grković Nevena, Radaković Milena, Karabasil Nedjeljko, Kaić Ana, Čobanović Nikola
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how transport density affects horse welfare remains crucial for those involved in the supply chain, yet evidence-based recommendations have been limited. Researchers tracked 89 horses across twelve separate transport journeys, analysing blood markers of stress (lactate, glucose, ceruloplasmin and oxidative stress indicators), carcass damage, and meat quality parameters in relation to loading density (≤200 kg/m² versus >200 kg/m²) and sex. High-density transport (>200 kg/m²) triggered pronounced physiological stress responses across all horses, though stallions proved significantly more vulnerable—they displayed elevated stress metabolites, substantially higher rates of severe bruising (particularly on the abdomen and thorax), and developed dark, firm and dry (DFD)-like defects in the longissimus lumborum muscle, indicating poor meat quality. Geldings demonstrated greater resilience to crowded conditions, whilst mares occupied a middle position. These findings directly challenge current transport practices: reducing loading density to ≤200 kg/m² would improve not only individual animal welfare—fewer bruises and lower blood lactate levels—but also meat quality outcomes and commercial viability of carcasses. Given that sex influences susceptibility to transport stress, future work should establish sex-specific density thresholds, but present evidence suggests that welfare and product quality improvements could be realised immediately through stricter adherence to lower loading densities, particularly when transporting stallions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Transport loading density should not exceed 200 kg/m² to minimize welfare stress indicators and carcass damage, with particular attention to stallion transport which shows greatest sensitivity
- •High-density transport of stallions results in poor meat quality outcomes including dark, firm, dry (DFD-like) defects that reduce market value and safety
- •Gender matters in transport planning: geldings tolerate transport conditions better than stallions, suggesting gender-specific transport protocols may improve both welfare and economic outcomes
Key Findings
- •High loading density (>200 kg/m²) during transport increased blood lactate, glucose, ceruloplasmin and AOPP while decreasing GSH across genders
- •Stallions at high loading density developed the highest frequency of severe, large and circular carcass bruises on abdominal and thoracic walls (p<0.0001)
- •Stallions subjected to high loading density exhibited highest initial and ultimate pH in longissimus lumborum muscle with DFD-like defects (p=0.0045)
- •Geldings were most resistant to high loading density stress while stallions were most sensitive, with low loading density (≤200 kg/m²) producing significantly more undamaged carcasses (p<0.0001)