Slaughter Horse Transport Program 



New regulations for the transportation of horses to slaughter became effective on 

 December 7, 2001. These regulations fulfill USDA's responsibility under the 1996 

 farm bill to ensure the proper care of horses without inhibiting the commercially 

 viable transport of these animals to slaughter facilities. The regulations address the 

 food, water, and rest that must be provided to the animals. Owner-shippers of horses 

 are required to take certain actions in loading and transporting the animals and, in 

 addition, certifying that the commercial transportation meets certain requirements 

 by completing the owner-shipper certificate. Special backtags, available from the 

 APHIS-VS Area Office, are required to identify the slaughter horses during transport. 

 In addition, the 2001 regulations prohibit the commercial transportation to slaughter 

 facilities of horses considered to be unfit for travel, the use of electric prods, and, by 

 2006, the use of double-deck trailers. 



Since 1989, about 2 million horses have been slaughtered at USDA-approved horse 

 slaughter plants. Although the number of horses slaughtered in the United States 

 has fallen substantially over the years, 58,736 were slaughtered during 2004. These 

 horses — some quite old, some lame, and some blind — arc sold at auction terminals 

 and then transported in double-deck, straight, or gooseneck trailers to a plant located 

 in the United States, Canada, or Mexico. The program's goal is to ensure that equines 

 destined for slaughter are handled and transported in a humane way. 



The program activities have been aimed at ensuring that truckers, horse owners, 

 stakeholders, and slaughter-plant personnel within the United States and Canada are 

 conversant with the new regulations and their implementation. APHIS-VS developed 

 and distributed a guidebook, video, truckers' leaflet, posters, and a revised owner- 

 shipper certificate with instructions. These materials provide useful information and 

 guidance to stakeholders involved in handling or transporting horses to slaughter. 

 This information is available from the APHIS Web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ 

 vs/nahps/equine/horse^transport or may be obtained in hard copies trom the 

 APHIS-VS Area Office. 



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