The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published two scientific opinions: “Plain Language Summary of the Scientific opinion on welfare of horses at slaughter” and “Plain Language Summary of the Scientific opinion on welfare of horses during on‐farm killing for purposes other than slaughter”. Slaughter specifically refers to killing an animal for human consumption, whereas killing other than slaughter refers to killing on farm for individual animals (e.g., a severely injured animal) or at a group/herd level (e.g., depopulation for disease control). These reports outline current knowledge and proper procedures for horse welfare during each phase of the slaughter and killing process, and recommendations for each phase. 

There are several general recommendations for both slaughter and killing other than for slaughter. Building and maintaining a suitable facility for horses is important to reduce injury and stress. Ensuring staff are trained to manage horses (e.g. recognise specific behaviours) will reduce stress in both horses and humans and reduce the risk of hazards. Consistently monitoring horses during each process using animal-based measures further protects the welfare of the horses. The scientific opinions review specific recommendations for each aspect of the phases. For slaughter, these subcategories include arrival, unloading, lairage, handling and moving, restraint, stunning, and bleeding. For killing other than slaughter, these subcategories are handling and moving, restraint, and stunning and/or killing. 

For more, see: horse welfare at slaughter and during on-farm killing for purposes other than slaughter

Plain Language Summary of the Scientific opinion on welfare of horses at slaughter, EFSA Journal, 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9178, 23, 1, (2025).

Plain Language Summary of the Scientific opinion on welfare of horses during on‐farm killing for purposes other than slaughter, EFSA Journal, 10.2903/j.efsa.2025.p230102, 23, 1, (2025).