Horse 7- Equine slaughter Flashcards
History of horse meat
-cave drawings in France 30,000 years ago
-domestication may have risen partly for consumption and partly for labour
-World wars in UK= hunger and lack of other resources led to consumption
-consumption in Great depression in north america
Cultural and religious horse meat consumption
-Asia and Europe largest market for Canadian export
-Some consumption in Quebec and French canadian communities
**Taboo in most english speaking western cultures. Concerns over welfare/slaughter processes
Horse meat
-sweet, tender, lean meat
-Compared to beef: more protein, less fat, less cholesterol, less Na, more Fe
*becomes more tender in older horses
Horse slaughter
-under control of CFIA
-highly regulated to ensure safety and welfare of horses
**must comply with Meat inspection Act and Meat inspection Regulations
Horse meat facilities in Canada
-Peak was in 2008, dropped since
-Canada exported $22,000,000 of meat in 2022
**live horses are more likely exported
-currently 2 federally registered facilities in Canada (Bouvry)
Horse meat testing
Tested for drug residues, environmental contaminants, pesticides
**random or targeted testing
What is the main drug looked for in horse meat?
Phenylbutazone
-because linked with aplastic anemia in humans
-commonly used in horses; banned in food animals
**detection levels at parts per trillion; hard to avoid; rare positive test results
Where do meat horses come from?
-feedlots
-shipped in
-intermediate buyers
What is the European market looking for?
Light horse types
-on hook = processed meat products
-controversy with phenylbutazone contamination so surveillance high
What are asian markets looking for?
Draft horse types
-on the hoof= live horses
-horses raised in canada and then shipped live
**controversy with shipping
Reasons why horse meat in appealing
-no spongiform encephalopathies
-no FMD
**directly led to increased consumption in European markets
Equine information document (EID)
-Required for all horses presented at a processing facility in Canada
-needs owner signed declaration to verify info AND CFIA vet must sign
*min records of at least last 6 mths
-written and visual ID, general health, medications given, must continue with horse if owner changes in between going to slaughter
Horse meat controversy in Canada
-US equine slaughter facility closed in 2007
-Canada became a destination for US horses destined for slaughter
**importation has slowed over the last few years
-Bill (C-355) trying to ban export of horses by air in 2nd reading
*likely will pass unless interrupted by election
