Why is horse meat illegal in the US?

Should we re-instate horse slaughter for human consumption?

Re-instating horse slaughter for human consumption would provide benefits to the U.S. economy, environment, horse owners, population managers, and most importantly, the horses. Horse slaughter occurs worldwide, and horse meat is traded globally.

Is it illegal to kill a horse in the USA?

Under recent legislative changes, horses remain property and anyone in the USA can humanely kill his or her own horse without fear of sanction. It is the providing of horse tissue as meat for human consumption that has become the criminalized human act.

Is eating horses part of American culture?

Opponents of horse slaughter essentially say eating horses is not part of American culture, equating it to the slaughter of other pets. “We have a 250 year relationship in the United States with horses and eating them has never been a part of the equation,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.

Should horses be banned from being sold for meat?

However, the American Veterinary Medical Association does not support the ban, saying it is worried what will happen to unwanted horses if they cannot be sold for meat. “Removing slaughter as a humane option will leave many horses with nowhere to go and no one to care for them,” the association says on its website.

What caused the horse slaughter epidemic in the 1970s?

Although work horses vanished by the 1970s and mustangs were finally under federal protection, the growing number of leisure horses led to another surge in horse slaughter. The 1973 oil crisis pushed up the price of beef and, inevitably, domestic horse meat sales rose.

What happened to America’s horse meat industry?

The first decade of America’s horse meat industry had been an unprofitable, ill-regulated disaster for the country’s reputation. The new regulations put in place in the 1906 Pure Food Act could not reverse this overnight.

What happened to the horse meat industry in 1890?

But in the 1890s, a new American horse meat industry arose, if awkwardly. With the appearance of the electric street car and the battery-powered automobile, the era of the horse as a transportation technology was ending.

What happened to the horse meat plant in Illinois?

In DeKalb, Illinois, the only remaining American horse meat plant burned down in unexplained circumstances. The owners were prevented from rebuilding, as Illinois once more passed a law to stop the horse meat business. Horse slaughter ceased on U.S. soil, at least for domestic use as food.

What happened to the horse meat plant in DeKalb?

In DeKalb, Illinois, the only remaining American horse meat plant burned down in unexplained circumstances. The owners were prevented from rebuilding, as Illinois once more passed a law to stop the horse meat business. Horse slaughter ceased on U.S. soil, at least for domestic use as food.

How did the horse meat industry change in the 1890s?

But in the 1890s, a new American horse meat industry arose, if awkwardly. With the appearance of the electric street car and the battery-powered automobile, the era of the horse as a transportation technology was ending.

What happened to the horse abattoirs?

Activists and politicians worked to shut down the remaining abattoirs in the years that followed. In early September 2006, the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act passed the U.S. House, with Republican John Sweeney calling the horse meat business “one of the most inhumane, brutal and shady practices going on in the United States today.”

Were Alberta horses sold to meat-packing plant without owner’s permission?

A southern Alberta woman is outraged after her two beloved horses were sold to a meat-packing plant and slaughtered without her knowledge or permission. A southern Alberta woman is outraged after her two beloved horses were sold to a meat-packing plant and slaughtered without her knowledge or permission.

Where can I find a horse abattoir in Australia?

Meramist abattoir is just north of Brisbane, in Caboolture, Queensland. Our focus is on this abattoir as they kill around 10,000 horses a year. The doggers mentioned on here supply this abattoir. There is also a butcher in Western Australia that slaughters horses for Australian restaurants.

How many racehorses are killed in abattoirs each year?

Panorama’s The Dark Side Of Horse Racing will claim that ‘at least 4,000 racehorses have been slaughtered in abattoirs since 2019’. Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/PA Panorama’s The Dark Side Of Horse Racing will claim that ‘at least 4,000 racehorses have been slaughtered in abattoirs since 2019’.

Are Drury abattoirs humanely destroying horses?

The abattoir, Drury and Sons, told Panorama that they “take great care to maintain high welfare conditions and do not accept any form of animal abuse”. They said all horses are “humanely destroyed” and that on occasions where issues do occur, they take ”swift action to review and rectify” them.

What happened to the Cavel West meat packing plant?

July 21, 1997, Redmond, Oregon : Arson attack on the Cavel West meat packing plant. The plant was in the business of slaughtering horses and then shipping the meat to Europe to be sold there. Estimated cost over $1 million.

How much horse meat is exported from slaughterhouses?

The slaughterhouses exported about $42 million in horse meat annually, with most going overseas. About 10 percent of their output was sold to zoos to feed their carnivores, and 90 percent was shipped to Europe and Asia for human consumption.

Where can I export horse meat from Australia?

Located in Queensland, one of only 2 abattoirs in Australia accredited for export of horse meat. Hema Maps – Australia Truckies atlas. Peterborough (SA) and Caboolture (QLD) are Australia’s only licensed horse abattoirs able to export horse meat to European Union (EU) Countries. 1 June.

Is there a horse slaughterhouse in Australia?

There is also a butcher in Western Australia that slaughters horses for Australian restaurants. Meramist is a multi-species abattoir that kills cattle, horses and until recently, camels.

Is abattoir horsemeat being exported for human consumption?

The Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses claims some of the horsemeat produced at the abattoir is exported for human consumption. Queensland Racing Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said there were two issues that needed to be investigated: how the horses ended up at the facility, and how they were treated once they arrived there.

What happened at Drury and Sons abattoir?

Undercover cameras set up by Animal Aid, which has long campaigned for an end to horse racing, found shocking scenes in Drury and Sons, an abattoir in Swindon which has a licence to kill horses. Drury and Sons told the BBC it did not accept any form of animals abuse.

Are horses sent to slaughterhouses humanely destroyed?

All horses are humanely destroyed and on occasions where issues do occur, we take swift action to review and rectify.” Three of the horses sent to be slaughtered were reportedly trained by three-time Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott.

What is the BHA doing about animal abuse at Drury and Sons?

The BHA and Horse Racing Ireland said they would support an investigation by UK authorities. The abattoir, Drury and Sons, told Panorama they “take great care to maintain high welfare conditions and do not accept any form of animal abuse”.

Is Swindon’s Drury and Sons horse abattoir animal abuse?

The abattoir, Drury and Sons in Swindon – which has a licence to kill horses – told the BBC it didn’t accept any form of animal abuse. Three of the horses allegedly shot in the abattoir were reportedly trained by three-time Grand National-winning coach Gordon Elliot .