Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter

Veterinary Services

April 2003

Over 42,000 equines, mostly horses unfit or unsuitable for riding, are slaughtered humanely each year in the United States. For some time, people have expressed concern about the way in which these animals are handled when transported from the auction terminal to the slaughtering facility.

Recognizing these concerns, Congress has charged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) with developing an oversight program for the transport of equines to slaughter. In response, USDA has prepared the regulatory framework that addresses both the needs of equines and those of the transportation industry.

Congressional Charge

The Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, commonly known as the 1996 Farm Bill, authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to issue guidelines to regulate the commercial transportation of equines to slaughter by persons regularly engaged in that activity within the United States. The Secretary is authorized to regulate the food, water, and rest provided to such equines in transit; to require the segregation of stallions from other equines during transit; and to review other related issues the Secretary considers appropriate.

The Secretary is authorized to require any person to maintain such records and reports as are deemed necessary. The Secretary also is authorized to conduct investigations and inspections and to establish and strictly enforce civil penalties.

In a final rule published on December 31, 1996, the Secretary delegated the authority for
administering these requirements to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

USDA’s Initiatives

To meet the Congressional charge to improve the care of equines while they are being transported to slaughter, APHIS has undertaken the following initiatives:
1. Convened a committee composed of its own internal experts plus representatives from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service and Food Safety and Inspection Service to develop a meaningful, yet
workable, set of guidelines.

2. Participated in two meetings called by the American Horse Council and the Animal Horse Protection Association. From these meetings, USDA was able to develop a strategy for implementing a proactive program to address all provisions contained in the Congressional charge.

3. Commissioned three research projects to study requirements for food and water, position of various types of equines within a conveyance, and behavior of stallions and aggressive mares in confinement. Researchers also examined the importance of
segregating various breeds and the need for rest after more than 28 hours of confinement.

4. Identified the need for an educational program and gained consensus regarding the program from the participants involved in developing and/or contributing to the proposed rule. The new program includes production of a training video, publication of a guidebook, creation and distribution of leaflets for truck drivers, creation and distribution of posters at auction markets, and presentation of a series of educational workshops around the United States.

Overview of the Final Rule

The final initiative that APHIS undertook was the development of a rule for the transport of equines to slaughter. Published in the Federal Register, dated December 7, 2001, the final rule calls for:

Adherence to a feed and water schedule prior to shipping the equines;
Issuance of USDA “backtags” to each equine in the shipment. Backtags are affixed to an animal as identification so that the animal can be traced back to its original owner;
Completion of an owner/shipper certificate, including an authorized signature for each equine;
Compliance with specific loading guidelines, which include allocating floor space and segregation of aggressive equines, such as stallions, from the rest of the animals;
Education of personnel responsible for ensuring the care, safety, and welfare of each animal while in transit to the slaughtering facility;
Inspection of animals and the transport trucks by qualified USDA authorities;
Enforcement of specific requirements at the slaughtering facility by USDA officials, including inspection of the animals and the owner/shipper certificate;
Prohibition of the transport of horses unfit for travel, the use of electric prods, and, after 5 years, the use of double–deck trailers for commercial transportation.

How to Get a Copy of the Final Rule

The final rule was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2001. It is in the Code of Federal Regulations: 9CFR Parts 70 and 88 as well. For additional information, you may also visit APHIS’ Web site at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html or write or call the APHIS contacts listed below.

Additional Information

For additional information on this issue, contact the government/industry coordinators of the Commercial Transportation of Equines to Slaughter program:

Timothy Cordes
National Center for Animal Health Programs,
Certification and Control Team,
Veterinary Services, APHIS
4700 River Road, Unit 46
Riverdale, MD 20737–1231
Phone: (301) 734–4363

Betsy Sillers
National Center for Animal Health Programs,
Certification and Control Team,
Veterinary Services, APHIS
4700 River Road, Unit 46
Riverdale, MD 20737–1231
Phone: 301) 734–8711

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250–9410 or call (202) 720–5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Click here for printable version (PDF)