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Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2023) | Viewed by 17352

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Barbara Padalino

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Guest Editor

Department of Agricultural and Food Science (DISTAL), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 50, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Interests: equine internal and sports medicine; exercise physiology; horse behavior and welfare; equitation science; animal behavior and welfare; animal transport; human-animal interaction; animal welfare science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Christopher Riley

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Interests: infrared spectroscopy; biomarkers for immunoglobulins, milk, equine welfare, and transportation; biomarkers for osteoarthritis; humoural and neonatal immunity; equine-related injury; antimicrobial resistance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Live animal commercial and noncommercial transportation is a major welfare concern and a biosecurity risk. Transportation by road, ship, or air may lead to behavioral and health problems in wild, companion, and large animals. This is why regulations to protect animal health and welfare during transport have been issued in many countries. However, these regulations often are not based on evidence, and there is still an urgent need for scientific results. As animal welfare scientists, we have the duty to carry out applicable research, which could underpin the current regulations to safeguard health and welfare not only of animals, but also of humans. This Special Issue invites colleagues working in animal welfare science, in particular, in animal transportation. It aims at collecting a series of articles that may help to enhance the regulation of animal transportation worldwide. Topics related to training pre transport; fitness for travel; journey duration; space allowance; duration of rest stops; feeding and watering practices before, during, and after traveling; and all other possible risk factors for the transported animals are very welcome. Papers using one health and one welfare approach are particularly welcome. Of particular interest are not only research papers but also reviews, opinion-based articles, and all types of studies suggesting strategies for ways to monitor the animals and protect them before, during, and after transport.

Dr. Barbara Padalino
Prof. Dr. Christopher Riley
Guest Editors

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Keywords

transportation
welfare
behavior
protection
guidelines
journey duration
rest stop
space allowance
feeding
watering

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review, Other

21 pages, 1416 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions

by Jessica Gonçalves Vero, Nicolas Devillers, Ana Maria Bridi, Kyle A. T. Moak, Gizella Aboagye, Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira, Jansller Luiz Genova, Sabine Conte and Luigi Faucitano

Animals 2023, 13(17), 2767; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172767 - 30 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1395 | Correction

Abstract

This study was carried out through two separate experiments aiming at evaluating the effects of two space allowances (0.54 and 0.62 m²/pig in summer and 0.44 m²/pig and 0.50 m²/pig in winter) on the behavioural and physiological response, and meat quality of pigs of two slaughter weights (120 kg and 140 kg). In summer, higher blood haematocrit levels were found at slaughter in heavier pigs transported at a smaller space allowance (p = 0.04). During lairage, pigs transported at a smaller space allowance started fighting later (p = 0.04). Fighting behaviour was greater in heavier pigs (p ≤ 0.05), whilst their drinking activity was lower (p < 0.05). This resulted in greater exsanguination blood CK levels (p < 0.01) and drier hams (p = 0.05) in heavier pigs. In winter, only lower space allowance influenced some meat quality traits (p < 0.05), but these effects were minor. The effects of space allowance during summer transports on within-truck ambient conditions, post-transport pigs’ welfare, and meat quality are similar. Mixing heavier pigs may result in greater aggressiveness and more fatigue-related meat quality variation during summer. Overall, winter transport results may have been biased by the short journey and within-truck load distribution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

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12 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Human Injuries Associated with the Transport of Horses by Road

by Christopher B. Riley, Barbara Padalino, Chris W. Rogers and Kirrilly R. Thompson

Animals 2023, 13(10), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13101594 - 10 May 2023

Viewed by 2016

Abstract

There is an increased understanding of shared human–animal risk in terms of “one welfare”, whereby when animals are at risk, so are people, so preventing injury to one species may also prevent injury to the other. Because transport-related injuries to horses are common, the authors considered this paradigm to study road equine transport-related injuries to humans in New Zealand. The aim was to determine their frequency and associated factors by distributing a survey to horse industry participants through industry organisations asking about their horse activities, road transport experiences, and any related self-injury. There were 112/1067 (10.5%) handlers injured while preparing (13/112), loading (39/112), traveling (6/112), or unloading (33/112). Of these, 40% had multiple injury types, and 33% had several body regions affected. Hand injuries were most common (46%), followed by the foot (25%), arm (17%), and head or face (15%). Median recovery time was 7 days. Injuries were associated with the responder’s industry educational background, years of driving experience, and reporting a horse injured during road transport in the past two years. Wearing helmets and gloves, and adopting strategies designed to eliminate equine injuries associated with the road transport of horses to reduce the risk of injury to their handlers are recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

29 pages, 1384 KiB

Open AccessArticle

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

by Martina Felici, Leonardo Nanni Costa, Martina Zappaterra, Giancarlo Bozzo, Pietro Di Pinto, Michela Minero and Barbara Padalino

Animals 2022, 12(22), 3122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223122 - 12 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1875

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. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

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26 pages, 1101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Journeys, Journey Conditions, and Welfare Assessment of Unbroken (Unhandled) Horses on Arrival at a Slaughterhouse in Italy

by Martina Zappaterra, Leonardo Nanni Costa, Martina Felici, Michela Minero, Francesco Perniola, Daniele Tullio and Barbara Padalino

Animals 2022, 12(16), 2083; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12162083 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2426

Abstract

Transportation of horses to slaughterhouses can pose a welfare concern, in particular when horses are unbroken/unhandled. This study aimed to describe their journeys and journey conditions, document their welfare status on arrival in a slaughterhouse in Italy, and investigate possible associations between journey conditions and welfare issues. A total of 395 unbroken draft horses in 20 different consignments were assessed with a standardized protocol. The most common departure point (16/20 consignments, 80%) was a French assembly center, but many of these horses had Spanish passports, suggesting they had previously been transported from Spain to France. The average journey duration was 34 ± 14 h, including journey breaks (i.e., short stops inside the vehicle and long resting stops at control posts), while transit time was 24 ± 4 h. The drivers were well experienced, the trucks were well equipped (i.e., forced ventilation, drinkers), and the horses traveled loose in small groups (n ≤ 4 horses) within pens inside the vehicle. On arrival at the slaughterhouse, the horses self-unloaded and showed minimal behavioral and health problems. The prevalence of injuries, diarrhea/abnormal feces, and nasal discharge were 1.52%, 6.58%, and 4.30%, respectively. Cold temperatures, space allowance, and lack of feeding during transport were found to be the main hazards of those problems (all p < 0.05). Our findings confirm that the correct assessment of the fitness for transport, adequate journey conditions, and experienced staff are crucial factors to safeguard the welfare of unbroken horses during long journeys. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

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19 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Equine Transport-Related Problem Behaviors and Injuries: A Survey of Italian Horse Industry Members

by Francesca Dai, Martina Zappaterra, Michela Minero, Francesca Bocchini, Christopher B. Riley and Barbara Padalino

Animals 2021, 11(1), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010223 - 18 Jan 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3932

Abstract

An online survey was conducted to determine associations between equine transport management and transport-related injuries and problem behaviors in Italy. The survey was composed of four sections: respondents’ demographic information and background, transport management practices, journey details and vehicle design, and transport injuries experienced by the horse in the previous two-year period. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression with a binary outcome variable was performed to explore associations between variables (respondents’ and journeys’ details and transport practices) and equine transport-related problem behaviors (TRPBs) and injuries. TRPBs were also considered an explanatory variable for injuries. The survey generated 201 responses; only 148 were complete and analyzed. TRPBs were reported by 14.45% of the respondents and the odds of TRPBs was linked to the respondent gender (p = 0.034), the use of tranquilizers prior to transport (p = 0.002), the use of a whip for loading (p = 0.049), the lack of protection equipment (p = 0.050), and shavings (p = 0.025) on the vehicle floor. Horse injuries (11.49%) were reported by more respondents who did not check the brakes of their transport vehicle before traveling (p = 0.043), had vehicles with padding on the chest bar (p = 0.038), and for horses reported to display TRPBs (p = 0.001). Finally, 10 respondents reported they were injured during horse transport (10/140; 7.14%), 50% simultaneously with their horses. The study findings should be interpreted with caution due to small sample size bias and participants’ recall bias. Nevertheless, the results are in concordance with the literature, confirming that horse transport is a risk for the horse’s and handler’s health and well-being. Further studies are needed to identify best management practices to educate equine industry members on how to minimize transport-related problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

Review

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25 pages, 2985 KiB

Open AccessReview

Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves

by Kelly Buckham-Sporer, Bernadette Earley and Sonia Marti

Animals 2023, 13(21), 3393; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213393 - 1 Nov 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2549

Abstract

Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Live Animal Transportation: A Risk for Animal and Human Health and Welfare)

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