Countries Where Foals Are Bred For Horsemeat
|
|
We may dislike it, but there are still many people who eat horse meat. A few years ago, I interviewed a woman from Malta who was living in Britain. When I asked her what she missed, she said the beauty of the island and her mother serving horse meat. For her, horse meat was a taste of home.
While much of the horse meat being served may come from North and South America’s ‘unwanted’ horses, it may come as a surprise that horses are being raised for meat. In France, the horse meat industry has prevented the country’s nine native draft horse breeds from becoming extinct. The French enjoy their horse meat, and according to France Trait, 88% of the draft horses raised there are bred for human consumption. They also claim that demand is greater than production. French horses and horse meat are exported to Italy, where horse meat is said to be very popular, and to Spain.
In Iceland horses raised for meat are kept separate from horses for pleasure use. The horses used for meat production are raised in the more remote parts of the island, and live a nearly wild existence. Only in extreme circumstances is extra food or assistance supplied. The foals are left with their mothers until they are a year old, when they are then separated and prepared for slaughter. Foal meat is considered a specialty and highlighted on restaurant menus. Iceland exports meat to other countries too, most notably to France and Belgium. Production of meat horses is limited in Iceland, because of the lack of pasture, but still some 10,000 horses and foals are slaughtered each year. In Iceland, cattle breeding is difficult due to the climate.
Related: Would You Ever Eat Horse Meat
Related: The Five Dollar Horse In The Shed
Related: What Will Happen to the Sable Island Ponies
Related: Slaughter Plan Proposed for the Rare Dartmoor Pony
Kazakhstan, a country in Central Asia, bordered by China in the east, with a long history of eating horse meat and consuming horse milk products, recently showed an interest in buying breeding animals from Alberta, Canada for the purpose of producing horse meat according to a September 2013 Globe and Mail article.
“A memo released under the Access to Information Act shows federal officials last year hosted a Kazakh delegation that wanted to buy 350 Canadian breeding horses to kick-start a domestic slaughter industry.”
Traditionally, horses raised for slaughter in Kazakhstan were kept separate from working horses and fed until obese.
There are other countries that export a major portion of the horse meat consumed around the world. But, the horses shipped live, or ‘on the hook’ from these countries are a by-product of the pleasure and race horse industries. Raising horses specifically for meat is not as efficient as raising beef or pork. They are more difficult to keep in the same types of factory farm environments common to current meat production practices. They are more difficult to transport, and they are more expensive to feed. This might explain why horse meat is considered a delicacy in countries where it’s eaten, and why a meat-horse agricultural industry is unlikely to spring up any time soon. |
|
|
behind the bit
Id be a hypocrite to be against horse slaughter and eating them as I am a meat eater. But I really wouldn't fancy eating it or breeding horses to sell for meat.
Id be a hypocrite to be against horse slaughter and eating them as I am a meat eater. But I really wouldn't fancy eating it or breeding horses to sell for meat.
|
Aug 20, 2016
• 4,802 views
|
|
|
|
|
Related Horse News
|
|
We may dislike it, but there are still many people who eat horse meat. A few years ago, I interviewed a woman from Malta who was living in Britain. When I asked her what she missed, she said the beauty of the island and her mother ...
|
|
In some cultures, horse meat is still a valued source of protein. A few years ago, I interviewed a young woman from Malta, who was then working in London, England. What did she miss most about home? She missed a delicious meal of ...
|
|
There are places of course where horses are eaten, and even raised specifically for their meat. Many of us have strong objections to eating horse meat. But a Swedish harness racer driver has faced criticism for her decision to eat ...
|
|
Eating horse meat is a controversial subject that many people find offensive. But, there is a small indication that the stigma is slowly lessening. In part, it’s a recognition that we need to be conscious of how we use our resourc ...
|
|
A study by researchers from Guelph University shows that there could be horsemeat in some Canadian sausage. Of the 100 sausages tested undeclared horse meat showed up in one sample that was supposed to be 100% pork. ...
|
|
More News by Winniefield Park
|
|
CBD oil seems to be a very popular option for treating many health issues in humans, dogs, and horses. There appears to be plenty of evidence that it may help with pain, inflammation, digestive problems and much more. The folks at ...
|
|
The three highest earners on PonyBox are from the same stable. All have successful offspring and two are from the same line. As we swing into April, here’s a look at these top winning horses. ...
|
|
Do you have twenty minutes and a big bottle of ketchup? That might be all you need to take your horse’s winter-stained tail from dingy yellow to sparkling white. This quick tip shows you how this common condiment can become an ind ...
|
|
Bergen County Horse Rescue is located near Mahwah, New Jersey. Recently, the rescue was the subject of a film short produced through Sony I Alpha Universe. While many of the viewers will be analyzing the quality of the film, the r ...
|
|
Three PonyBox mares are holding top jump, rank and win/lose streak as we head for the last weekend in March. ...
|
|
Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are looking forward to warmer weather, and that may mean we are planning some outdoor adventures such as camping. If you’re taking your horse with you, it’s not going to fit in your tent or c ...
|
|
Do you have snow left. Winter isn’t over for many of us, and that means there is still time to try a new winter sport. And, just maybe you know of a small pony that isn’t busy. Just grab a harness and a sled and go dashing throug ...
|
|
For most of us, the passion to ride takes hold at a very young age. That’s how it was for a young Senegalese boy, who has become a top jockey in his country. With the support of his community this young man has his sights set high ...
|
|
|