The origin and foot condition of horses slaughtered in Australia for the human consumption market

Reasons for performing study: There are ethical concerns regarding the loss of horses from various equine industries and their corresponding slaughter. However, to date, no empirical evidence regarding the extent of this loss, nor of the condition of horses involved, exists within Australia. Objectives: To determine the approximate ages, brand type and condition of feet of horses relinquished to an export abattoir in Australia. Method: Data were collected from 340 horses processed at an Australian abattoir from November 2007‐January 2008. Foot abnormalities, injuries and hoof indicators of overgrown and untrimmed hooves were assessed together with a dental inspection. Observations of brand were used to determine horse origin. Results: The dental age of 60% of horses was ≤7 years, and 53% originated from the racing industry (40% Thoroughbred and 13% Standardbred). A total of 81% of the horses had overgrown or untrimmed hooves. Standardbred horses had fewer grass cracks and more injuries to the coronary band than Thoroughbreds, probably due to pacing and trotting activities. Conclusions: Just over half of the horses slaughtered at an Australian abattoir on 3 working days were aged ≤7 years and emanated from the racing industry. Foot problems were common. Potential relevance: Future research should identify means of reducing the number of horses slaughtered and preventative measures for foot disorders.