Aloma Zoratti
Effect of the length of the rest stop period during transport on stress in the horse.
Supervisor: Prof. Edi Piasentier
The transport of domestic animals through and within European countries is a very widespread and numerically consistent practice. Long journeys (EC Reg. n. 1/2005) have more harmful effects on animal welfare than short journeys. They exceed eight hours in duration, starting from the moment when the first animal of the consignment is transferred. Horses can be transported for a maximum period of 24 hours (excluding the time taken to water them every 8 hours). The resting places where the animals stop along the way are called Control Posts and Collection Centers (EC Reg. n. 1255/1997). Temporary detention of animals in transit must be planned as part of the transport, sorting and marketing program. The Control Post is a place where animals in transit are kept for a period of at least 24 hours, and is therefore used exclusively to welcome, feed, water, rest, lodge, take care of and forward the animals passing through to their destination. Unloading and subsequent loading can also be a cause of stress for the animals.
The aim of the PhD project is to verify to what extent the period spent inside a Control Post can influence the well-being of horses during transport and the influence of factors depending on transport condition (size of the consignment, environmental temperature) and animal category (breed, size, age, sex).
Biography and Contacts:
Aloma Zoratti was born in Latisana, Italy on 01/09/1995. In July 2017, she obtained her bachelor’s degree in Animal Health and Breeding at the University of Udine. In March 2020, she obtained her master’s degree in Animal Breeding and Welfare with the specialization in research and development in animal transport with a final grade of 110/110 cum laude at the University of Udine. During the master’s degree, she obtained the 24 CFU to teach in the high schools.
Shortly after, in July 2020, she achieved the qualification to practice the profession of agronomist.
In November 2020 she started the doctoral course at the PhD school of “Agriculture Science and Biotechnology” at the University of Udine.