Are Horses Shipped To Canada For Slaughter?

It is a horrific industry where thousands of innocent horses are slaughtered for human consumption. Canada has become the leading horse meat supplier and distributor, exporting over 4,800 live horses each year.

Does Canada import horses for slaughter?

Text: CALGARY — Canada – and in particular Alberta – is one of the world’s biggest suppliers of horses for meat.

Where are horses shipped for slaughter?

Most American horses destined for slaughter are transported to EU-regulated plants in Mexico and Canada. Horses, unlike traditional food animals in the United States, are not raised (or medicated) with the intent of becoming human food.

Do they eat horse meat in Canada?

Horse meat is not really a thing in Canada. There is some demand for it in certain parts of the French-speaking province of Quebec, but generally speaking, we don’t eat horses here.

Do horses get sent to slaughterhouses?

Thousands of American horses are sent to slaughter every year and the vast majority would be rehomed; not every horse going to slaughter needs to go to rescue. The USDA documented that 92.3 percent of horses sent to slaughter are in good condition and are able to live out a productive life.

Does Canada export live horses for slaughter?

Canada has become the leading horse meat supplier and distributor, exporting over 4,800 live horses each year. Most of the live horses are shipped to Japan where they are slaughtered to produce thinly sliced horse flesh called “basashi”, a popular delicacy.

Are there horse slaughterhouses in Canada?

There are now four equine slaughter plants in Canada, two in Quebec and two in Alberta.

Which country is largest importer of live horses for slaughter?

China (~20%) and Italy (~19%) were the two highest importers of horse meat. From 2013 to 2017 there was a 7.1% increase in the quantity of horse meat imported for the top 10 importing countries in the world. This amounts to a total of 7,238 tonnes or ~ 16 million lb.

Is horse meat in dog food?

The truth is, horse meat was once used as a primary ingredient in dog food and while it is permitted for use in pet foods in other countries, horse meat is no longer used in dog food in the United States.

What country slaughters the most horses?

Production

Which country is largest importer of live horses for slaughter?

China (~20%) and Italy (~19%) were the two highest importers of horse meat. From 2013 to 2017 there was a 7.1% increase in the quantity of horse meat imported for the top 10 importing countries in the world. This amounts to a total of 7,238 tonnes or ~ 16 million lb.

Are wild horses sold for slaughter?

This charge is absolutely false. The Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management care deeply about the well-being of wild horses, both on and off the range, and it has been and remains the policy of the BLM not to sell or send wild horses or burros to slaughter.

Where does Canada export horse meat to?

Horse meat is exported to Japan and other countries from facilities that are licensed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. The CFIA provides inspection services as required for horse slaughter as it does for other food animals.

Are animals slaughtered humanely in Canada?

Canadian law requires that all licence holders who operate slaughter establishments under federal regulations, ensure that all species of food animals are handled and slaughtered humanely; starting with their arrival at the establishment, until slaughter in the facility.

What is horse meat called in Canada?

Horsemeat, or chevaline as it is called in French, can still be found in specialty butcher shops and grocery stores in Quebec and on the menus of a few high-end Montreal restaurants. The real money, though, is in the overseas market; the live horse trade represents $20 million in sales for Canadian shippers.

What country eats the most horse meat?

China
In 2005, the five biggest horse meat-consuming countries were China (421,000 tonnes), Mexico, Russia, Italy, and Kazakhstan (54,000 tonnes). In 2010, Mexico produced 140,000 tonnes, China 126,000 tonnes, and Kazakhstan 114,000 tonnes.
Production.

When did the US stop slaughtering horses?

On May 24, 2007, the last slaughterhouse in the USA producing horsemeat for human consumption was closed by State statute (1). Recently there have been several state and federal regulatory initiatives in the USA intended to prevent the slaughter of horses for human consumption (2,3).