Horse meat: Difference between revisions

As horses are relatively poor converters of grass and grain to meat compared to cattle,<ref name=Harris /> in the western countries they are not usually bred or raised specifically for their meat. Instead, horses are slaughtered when their monetary value as [[equitation|riding]] or [[draft animal|work animals]] is low, but their owners can still make money selling them for horse meat, for example in the routine export of the [[south England|southern English]] ponies from the [[New Forest pony|New Forest]], [[Exmoor pony|Exmoor]], and [[Dartmoor pony|Dartmoor]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series2/new_forest_ponies_commoners_breed_improvements.shtml |title=BBC Inside Out - New Forest Ponies |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=February 24, 2003 |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130119074805/http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/south/series2/new_forest_ponies_commoners_breed_improvements.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=countrysideonline237>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007150933/http://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/plugins/content/content.php?content.237|archive-date=October 7, 2006|publisher=BBC Inside Out|title=NFU Countryside Online: Passports for Ponies|url=http://www.countrysideonline.co.uk/plugins/content/content.php?content.237|access-date=October 7, 2006}}</ref> [[United Kingdom law|British law]] requires the use of "[[Horse passport|equine passports]]" even for semiferal horses to enable [[traceability]] (also known as "provenance"), so most slaughtering is done in the UK before the meat is exported,<ref name=countrysideonline237 /> meaning that the animals travel as carcasses rather than live. Ex-[[Horse racing|racehorses]], [[Equestrianism|riding horses]], and other horses sold at auction may also enter the [[food chain]]; sometimes, these animals have been stolen or purchased under false pretenses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissing/storyladyslaughter.htm |title=Slaughter of Lady |publisher=Netposse.com |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=June 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620105331/http://www.netposse.com/stolenmissing/storyladyslaughter.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Even prestigious horses may end up in the [[slaughterhouse]]; the 1986 [[Kentucky Derby]] winner and 1987 [[Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year]] winner, [[Ferdinand (horse)|Ferdinand]], is believed to have been slaughtered in Japan, probably for [[pet food]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://horsesdaily.com/news/racing/2003/07-21-derbywinner-ferdinand.html |title=Death of a Derby Winner |publisher=Horsesdaily.com |access-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216061402/http://www.horsesdaily.com/news/racing/2003/07-21-derbywinner-ferdinand.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

 

 

Meat from horses that [[veterinarian]]s have [[Animal euthanasia|put down]] with a [[lethal injection]] is not suitable for human consumption, as the [[toxin]] remains in the meat; the carcasses of such animals are sometimes [[cremation|cremated]] (most other means of disposal are problematic, due to the toxin).{{citation needed|date=March 2010}} Remains of euthanized animals can be [[Rendering (food processing)|rendered]], which maintains the value of the skin, bones, fats, etc., for such purposes as fish food. This is commonly done for lab specimens (e.g., pigs) euthanized by injection. The amount of drug (e.g. a [[barbiturate]]) is insignificant after rendering.{{citation needed|date=March 2010}}