o:8593 Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review en In recent years, horsemeat has gained recognition as a valuable dietetic food due to its low caloric content, high-quality protein, rich vitamin and mineral composition and favoura- ble fatty acid profile, making it a suitable alternative meat for individuals with anaemia, obesity, atherosclerosis, hypertension, organ diseases and compromised immunity. As with other livestock species, minimising pre-slaughter stress is essential for ensuring animal wel- fare and achieving high meat quality, as stress can result in bruising and/or other injuries. Therefore, the aim of this review was to provide insights into the pre-slaughter conditions in the horsemeat production chain and related effects on welfare and meat quality, which will in turn expand knowledge in this area and determine directions for future research. Throughout the pre-slaughter period, horses encounter multiple potential stressors that can compromise their welfare and negatively affect carcass and meat quality. These stressors can arise at various stages, including conditions at the point of purchase, loading, transport, unloading, lairage, stunning and exsanguination. Pre-slaughter welfare conditions are significantly af- fected by animal characteristics (age, gender, breed, temperament), the infrastructure at both the point of purchase and the slaughterhouse, vehicle design, environmental conditions and the quality of human-animal interactions. Since current recommendations on minimum floor space in transport vehicles are insufficient and also clear guidelines on optimal lairage dura- tion for horses at slaughterhouses are lacking, further research is required to enhance horse welfare across the meat production chain. Equid Horse well-being, Horsemeat lairage, Loading density, Transport 1552099 10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.32 2025-12-03T13:05:05.596Z 44 yes 46 Vesna Božić-Jovanović University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review Ružica Trailović University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8552-2187 Nevena Grković University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review person https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0205-3531 Ivana Branković Lazić Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, 13 Kaćanskog, 11040 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review person https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5844-9278 Neđeljko Karabasil University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review person https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6097-3216 Nikola Čobanović University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Bulevar oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Pre-slaughter conditions and related effects on welfare and meat quality of slaughter horses: a mini review person https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2650-6272 application/pdf 431786 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8593 no yes 19 70 92000002 71A01 Meat technology - Special Issue 66/3 2025 1-576 66 3 205 210 Kaćanskog 13, 11 000 Belgrade Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology 2025-12-01 www.journalmeattechnology.com