Equine Slaughter in Canada

Question 1

What is the history of horses as food?

Answer 1

• 30,000 yr old Chauvet Cave paintings, France
• domestication may have in part been accomplished to allow us to raise horses for consumption
• during world wars, hunger & lack of other resources led to the consumption of horses in the UK
• similar reasoning lead to consumption during the great depression in NA

Question 2

How are horses consumed today?

Answer 2

• there are still religious & cultural traditions associated w/ the consumption of horse meat
• still consumed in many parts of the world
• Asia & Europe are the largest markets for Canadian export
• some consumption in QC & other French Canadian communities
• “taboo” in most English speaking Western cultures
• horses have essentially become companion animals
• concerns over welfare associated w/ the slaughter process

Question 3

What is horse meat like?

Answer 3

• reportedly a sweet, tender, lean meat
• more protein, less fat, less cholesterol, less sodium, & more iron than the same amount of high quality beef
• unlike other mammal meat, horse meat becomes more tender in older horses (significant b/c slaughter then becomes a viable option for the older horse)
• served in a variety of ways depending on culinary traditions

Question 4

how is horse meat produced in Canada?

Answer 4

• in most countries, horses are slaughtered similar to cattle
• in Canada, horse slaughter is conducted under the control of the CFIA
• highly regulated to ensure safety & welfare of horses & safety of product
• CFIA vets inspect facilities daily
• registered establishments must comply w/ the Meat Inspection Act & Meat Inspection Regulations
• currently there are 2 federally registered facilities in Canada

Question 5

What is horse meat tested for?

Answer 5

• drug residues, environmental contaminants, & pesticide residues (random & targeted)
• phenylbutazone is commonly used & therefore there are real concerns about residues in meat
• it can cause aplastic anemia in people so it is banned for use in food animals
• detection levels are among the best in the world

Question 6

where do horses used for meat come from?

Answer 6

• feedlots, shipped in, intermediate buyers

Question 7

What is the European horse meat market like?

Answer 7

light horse types
- ‘on hook’ (dead)
- recent controversy about bute contamination & increased surveillance & traceability

Question 8

What is the Asian horse meat market like?

Answer 8

draft horse types
- ‘on the hoof’ (still alive)
- animal’s purpose was to be raised for this market
- controversy over how horses are shipped

Question 9

Why is horse meat appealing ?

Answer 9

• no spongiform encephalopathies
• no FMD

Question 10

What is an Equine Information Document (EID)?

Answer 10

• required for all horses presented at a processing facility in Canada
• requires owner-signed declaration to verify info contained
• minimum record of the last 6 months (written & visual ID, general health, meds administered, must be transferred w/ horse if/when ownership changes

Question 11

What is the controversy around Eq as food in Canada?

Answer 11

• slaughter of horses for food has always been controversial
• since 2007, there have been no operating equine slaughter facilities in the USA
• Canada has become a destination for US horses destined for slaughter
• 2021: federal minister of agriculture directed to “ban the live export of horses for slaughter”
• 2022: 2600 horses were exported live for slaughter
• 2023: two acts: to prohibit the export of horses for slaughter by air & to amend the Health of Animals Act & Agriculture & Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations regarding live horses