Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies

Felici M; Cogger N; Nanni Costa L; Riley CB; Padalino B

Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies

dc.citation.issue	1
dc.citation.volume	20
dc.contributor.author	Felici M
dc.contributor.author	Cogger N
dc.contributor.author	Nanni Costa L
dc.contributor.author	Riley CB
dc.contributor.author	Padalino B
dc.coverage.spatial	England
dc.date.accessioned	2024-09-04T20:04:46Z
dc.date.available	2024-09-04T20:04:46Z
dc.date.issued	2024-04-26
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Studies on equine air transport practices and consequences are scarce. This prospective study aimed to describe horse and air journey details and practices, document how horse behavior and health changed during the air transport phases, quantify the occurrence of welfare issues, and identify possible associations between horse and journey details, air transport practices, and welfare issues. RESULTS: Data were collected from before departure to five days after arrival on 118/597 horses traveling on 32 commercial air journeys on different routes, varying in duration and conditions. Most horses were middle-aged warmblood females, 26% of which were pregnant, and being moved by air for sales. Before flying, most were quarantined (median: 18; IQR: 9-53 days), and their fitness for travel was certified by veterinarians. At the departure airports, external temperatures varied from - 6 °C to 33 °C, and horses were loaded by experienced flight grooms (median: 35; IQR: 15-40 years) into jet stalls (three-horse: 87%, two-horse: 13%). During the flights, horses were regularly watered (water intake median: 14 L) and fed ad libitum (feed consumption median: 8 kg). At the arrival airport, horses were unloaded from the jet stalls, and external temperatures ranged from - 5 °C to 32 °C. Then, all horses were transported to arrival quarantine by road. Air transport phases affected horses' health status and behavior; increased heart and respiratory rates and behaviors, such as pawing, head tossing, and vocalization, were mainly identified at departure and arrival. Horse interaction, nasal discharge, increased capillary refill time (CRT), and abnormal demeanor were observed more often one hour before landing while resting and normal capillary refill time were more often displayed five days after arrival (all P < 0.01). One hour before landing, horses with bad temperament and horses of unknown temperament were more likely to develop nasal discharge when transported in winter and autumn (P < 0.001). The likelihood of an increased CRT was associated with shorter flights in horses of unknown travel experience (P < 0.001). Ten horses were injured, and 11 developed pleuropneumonias (i.e., shipping fever). CONCLUSIONS: Air transport is a complex procedure with several different phases affecting horse health and behavior. Therefore, experienced staff should carefully manage each horse before, during, and after air journeys to minimize welfare hazards.
dc.description.confidential	false
dc.edition.edition	2024
dc.format.pagination	158-
dc.identifier.author-url	https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/38671444
dc.identifier.citation	Felici M, Cogger N, Nanni Costa L, Riley CB, Padalino B. (2024). Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies.. BMC Vet Res. 20. 1. (pp. 158-).
dc.identifier.doi	10.1186/s12917-024-03999-9
dc.identifier.eissn	1746-6148
dc.identifier.elements-type	journal-article
dc.identifier.issn	1746-6148
dc.identifier.number	158
dc.identifier.pii	10.1186/s12917-024-03999-9
dc.identifier.uri	https://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/71408
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	BioMed Central Ltd
dc.publisher.uri	https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-024-03999-9
dc.relation.isPartOf	BMC Vet Res
dc.rights	(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rights	CC BY 4.0
dc.rights.uri	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject	Air transport practices
dc.subject	Behavior
dc.subject	Equine
dc.subject	Flight
dc.subject	Health
dc.subject	Welfare
dc.subject	Animals
dc.subject	Horses
dc.subject	Animal Welfare
dc.subject	Female
dc.subject	Transportation
dc.subject	Male
dc.subject	Prospective Studies
dc.subject	Aircraft
dc.subject	Pregnancy
dc.title	Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies
dc.type	Journal article
pubs.elements-id	488610
pubs.organisational-group	Other