Donkey Slaughter in Brazil: A Regulated Production System or Extractive Model?

TL;DR

This study examines the unregulated donkey slaughter system in Brazil, finding poor animal welfare and health issues linked to rising demand for donkey skin in traditional Chinese medicine.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence of systemic health and welfare issues in Brazil's unregulated donkey slaughter industry.

Findings

Most donkeys showed signs of systemic inflammation and poor health.

Hematological indicators suggest malnutrition and compromised welfare.

The system is characterized as extractive and unsustainable due to mistreatment.

Abstract

Donkeys were once important working animals in Brazil, but their role has declined with mechanization. Today, they are mainly slaughtered for their skins, which are exported to produce ejiao, a gelatin used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, donkey slaughter in Brazil is not properly regulated, raising concerns about animal welfare and sustainability. Complaints filed by public agencies in Brazil have raised concerns about the donkey slaughter chain in the country, questioning whether this production system operates under regulated standards or follows an extractive model. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production system of donkeys destined for slaughter in Brazil through physical and hematological assessments, aiming to identify potential systemic failures that may compromise animal welfare. This study evaluated 104 abandoned donkeys intended for slaughter using physical and blood tests to assess their health and identify potential welfare issues. For this, we evaluated the sex, estimated the age, assessed the body condition score (BCS), and performed hematological assessments, including the measurement of hematocrit (HT), total plasma protein (TPP), and plasma concentration of fibrinogen. Most animals showed signs of systemic inflammation, suggesting that they were not in ideal health. The findings highlight the risks of an extractive, poorly regulated system that does not ensure proper care or protection for these animals.

Donkeys were traditionally used as draft animals for transporting cargo, as a means of transportation, and for riding purposes before the advent of mechanization. Following this historical shift, their economic significance declined, making them targets for other industries, such as Chinese industries that use donkey skin to extract gelatin (ejiao). Since donkey slaughter is not a regulated activity in Brazil, the welfare and survival of donkeys are increasingly at risk as demand for their skins rises. Complaints filed by public agencies in Brazil have raised concerns about the donkey slaughter chain in the country, questioning whether this production system operates under regulated standards or follows an extractive model. The objective of this study was to evaluate the production system of donkeys destined for slaughter in Brazil through physical and hematological assessments, aiming to identify potential systemic failures that may compromise animal welfare. To achieve this, physical and hematological evaluations were conducted on a group of 104 abandoned donkeys. The physical assessments aimed to determine the animals’ sex, estimate their age, and evaluate their body condition score (BCS). These were conducted through examination of the genital organs and dental arcades, with the neck evaluated using a scale from 0 to 4 and the body condition assessed using a scale from 1 to 9, respectively. Hematological assessments included the measurement of hematocrit (HT), total plasma protein (TPP), and plasma concentration of fibrinogen. Most of the donkeys were entire males (n = 50–48.08%), with a median age of 15.1 years. The body condition score was 2 or 3 (n = 36, 52%), and the neck condition score was 1 (n = 3, 37.5%). The majority of animals had hematocrit levels above 25%, total plasma protein levels below 7.5 g/dL, and fibrinogen levels exceeding 400 mg/dL. Based on the data analysis, the animals were characterized as being in poor health, since all groups exhibited altered body and neck condition score, plasma fibrinogen concentration, and total plasma protein. These parameters may be indicative of malnutrition and systemic inflammation, even though other laboratory results showed no signs of disease. Activities characterized by mistreatment contribute to an unsustainable extractive model.

Figures