Naslov (eng)

Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review

Autor

Božić-Jovanović, Vesna
Trailović, Ružica
Grković, Nevena
Branković Lazić, Ivana
Karabasil, Neđeljko
Čobanović, Nikola

Publisher

Opis (eng)

In recent years, horsemeat has gained recognition as a valuable dietetic food due to its low caloric content, high-quality protein, rich vitamin and mineral composition and favoura- ble fatty acid profile, making it a suitable alternative meat for individuals with anaemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, organ diseases and compromised immunity. As with other livestock species, minimising pre-slaughter stress is essential for ensuring animal wel- fare and achieving high meat quality, as stress can result in bruising and/or other injuries. Therefore, the aim of this review was to provide insights into the pre-slaughter conditions in the horsemeat production chain and related effects on welfare and meat quality, which will in turn expand knowledge in this area and determine directions for future research. Throughout the pre-slaughter period, horses encounter multiple potential stressors that can compromise their welfare and negatively affect carcass and meat quality. These stressors can arise at various stages, including conditions at the point of purchase, loading, transport, unloading, lairage, stunning and exsanguination. Pre-slaughter welfare conditions are significantly af- fected by animal characteristics (age, gender, breed, temperament), the infrastructure at both the point of purchase and the slaughterhouse, vehicle design, environmental conditions and the quality of human-animal interactions. Since current recommendations on minimum floor space in transport vehicles are insufficient and also clear guidelines on optimal lairage dura- tion for horses at slaughterhouses are lacking, further research is required to enhance horse welfare across the meat production chain.

Jezik

engleski

Datum

2025-12-01

Licenca

Ovo delo je licencirano pod uslovima licence
Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 - Creative Commons Autorstvo - Nekomercijalno - Deliti pod istim uslovima 4.0 International License.

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/legalcode

Predmet

Equid Horse well-being, Horsemeat lairage, Loading density, Transport

Deo kolekcije (1)

o:32

Institut za higijenu i tehnologiju mesa