Horse Transport to Three South American Horse Slaughterhouses: A Descriptive Study.
Authors: Nivelle Béke, Vermeulen Liesbeth, Van Beirendonck Sanne, Van Thielen Jos, Driessen Bert
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Horse Transport Practices in South American Slaughterhouses Between November 2016 and October 2017, researchers observed 23 commercial horse transports carrying 596 animals across Argentina and Uruguay to document current practices and identify welfare risks, using onboard video cameras and continuous environmental monitoring to assess conditions during journeys averaging 295 km and 294 minutes. Mean stocking density was 1.40 m² per horse (308 kg/m²), with infrared thermography revealing concerning thermal stress in six transports where temperature-humidity index exceeded 72, and in 14 transports where maximum temperature surpassed 25°C—particularly problematic given horses' limited ability to dissipate heat through sweating under crowded conditions. Surprisingly, loading infrastructure was often inadequate despite limited refusals, whilst aggression patterns differed significantly between front and rear compartments, though neither stocking density, environmental parameters, nor journey duration predicted aggressive behaviour, suggesting multiple interacting factors rather than single variables driving welfare compromise. For equine professionals managing or evaluating horses subject to transport, these findings highlight that thermal regulation remains inadequately controlled in many operations, and that spatial design (compartment placement) may influence stress responses independent of absolute crowding levels. Practitioners should scrutinise both infrastructure adequacy and climate control capability alongside density metrics when assessing transport welfare compliance, particularly in warm climates where thermal thresholds are readily exceeded.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Monitor trailer microclimate closely during transport—thermal conditions exceeded safe thresholds in over half of observed transports; implement ventilation improvements and consider transport timing to avoid peak heat
- •Stocking density of ~1.4 m²/horse did not eliminate aggressive behavior; positioning within the trailer (front vs. rear) affects horse aggression more than density or environmental measures alone
- •Long transport durations (average 5+ hours) combined with suboptimal thermal conditions and high stocking densities represent cumulative welfare risks requiring integrated management strategies
Key Findings
- •596 horses transported an average of 295±250 km over 294±153 minutes with average stocking density of 1.40±0.33 m²/horse (308±53 kg/m²)
- •In 14 of 23 transports (61%), maximum temperature exceeded 25°C, with 6 transports averaging above 25°C during journey
- •Temperature-humidity index exceeded 72 during 6 transports, indicating potential thermal stress conditions
- •Aggressiveness differed between front and rear loading spaces, but was not significantly influenced by stocking density, environmental parameters, trailer characteristics, or transport duration/distance