Dai Francesca, Toson Marica, Bertotto Daniela, Dalla Costa Alessandro, Heinzl Eugenio Ugo Luigi, Lega Francesca, Minero Michela, Padalino Barbara, Stefani Anna Lisa, Trestini Samuele, Maietti Federica, Zonta Gloria, Di Martino Guido
Independent Researcher, 20100 Milano, Italy.
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy.
Vet Sci. 2025 Jun 3;12(6):547. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12060547.
The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of self-loading training on the overall stress response during pre-slaughter transportation in slaughter horses. Thirty-two slaughter horses were divided into two groups: the control group (CG) and the Trained Group (TG). For six weeks, the TG horses were trained to self-load using a method based on target training and shaping. Animals from both groups were transported to the same slaughterhouse in small groups on different days using the same truck along the same route. The baseline and post-transportation values of the eye temperature and fecal cortisol metabolites were determined for all the animals. All the horses were video-recorded while being transported and unloaded. The horses' behavior was analyzed using a focal animal sampling method. During transportation, the presence of head shaking, licking, and chewing was significantly higher in the CG than the TG. During unloading, walking forward tended to be more frequent in the TG. The fecal cortisol metabolites and eye temperature were higher after transportation than at the baseline, but no differences between the groups were found. Overall, the results confirm that transportation for less than one hour caused detectable stress in slaughter horses. Based on these results, self-loading training appears to be somewhat useful to mitigate the overall transport stress.
本研究旨在评估自动装货训练对屠宰马在屠宰前运输过程中整体应激反应的影响。32匹屠宰马被分为两组：对照组（CG）和训练组（TG）。六周时间里，训练组的马采用基于目标训练和塑形的方法进行自动装货训练。两组的动物在不同日期被分成小组，使用同一辆卡车沿着同一路线运往同一个屠宰场。测定了所有动物的眼温及粪便皮质醇代谢物的基线值和运输后的值。所有马匹在运输和卸载过程中都进行了视频记录。采用焦点动物取样法对马的行为进行分析。运输过程中，对照组中摇头、舔舐和咀嚼行为的出现频率显著高于训练组。卸载过程中，训练组向前行走的频率往往更高。运输后粪便皮质醇代谢物和眼温高于基线水平，但两组之间未发现差异。总体而言，结果证实不到一小时的运输会在屠宰马身上引起可检测到的应激反应。基于这些结果，自动装货训练似乎在一定程度上有助于减轻整体运输应激。
