When is it justified to send a horse to the killer auction?

[Two Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Spot:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>In 1999 (last year listed) for Canada, the figure was 24,026, up from 23,152 in 1998 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

TwoToofs - that was *4* years ago that this data was reported and actually - is pretty darned close to what I have stated.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

While the last figures stated for Canada are from 1999, the trend shows that the numbers are either fairly consistent or dropping.

Let's have a look:
2002 US -43,312 CANADA -unavailable
2001 US-56,332 CANADA -unavailable
2000 US-47,134 CANADA -unavailable
1999�US- 62,813 CANADA-24,026
1998 US-72,120 CANADA-23,152
1997 US-88,086 �CANADA-21,729
1996 US-113,399 CANADA-26,082
1995 US-112,677 CANADA-30,000
1994 US-109,353 CANADA-35,000
1993 US-184,320 CANADA-51,000
1992 US-243,585 CANADA-60,000
1991 US-236,467 CANADA-74,000
1990 US-315,192 CANADA-70,000

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>I know what goes out through Toronto airport every single week. Just speaking with our cargo reps tells me this info in a nutshell.

Add in the ocean figures (which ARE more of a guesstimate that the air figures) and you come up with the 20,000 horses per year plus whatever Calgary ships out.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

If by this you mean that Calgary only contributes an additional 3-4,000 for the Canadian total, then fine. I have no clue as to the logistics of which plant in Canada does how much business.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
You also quote AQHA stats - again - I am ONLY guessing here, but I also do know that the TB industry was decimated in the 90's there for awhile, and overall foalings were down dramatically - perhaps this accounts for the drop in numbers that were slaughtered to a large extent

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Why guess and attribute this to the TB industry breeding trends when we can look for FACTS? (and define "dramatically" numerically)

(figures for US, Canada & Puerto Rico)

Anglo & Half Arabian
1990-4,276
1995-4,663
1998-3,841
1990-4,453
2000-3,628
2001-3,944
2002-3,688

Appaloosa
1990-10,669
1995-10,903
1998-9,119
1999-10,099
2000-10,096
2001-9,322
2002-9,032


Arabian
1990-17,676
1995-12,398
1998-11,320
1999-11,501
2000-9,660
2001-9,266
2002-9,394

Morgan Horse
1990-3,618
1995-3,053
1998-2,528
1999-3,220
2000-3,624
2001-3,475
2002-3,976

Paint
1990-16,153
1995-34,846
1998-55,356
1999-62,186
2000-62,511
2001-56,869
2002-60,113

Paso Fino
1990-1,550
1995-2,036
1998-1,898
1999-2,388
2000-2,280
2001-2,345
2002-2,233

Quarter Horse
1990-110,597
1995-107,322
1998-125,308
1999-135,528
2000-145,936
2001-150,936
2002-156,199

Saddlebred
1990-3,569
1995- 2,269
1998- 2,952
1999- 2,712
200- 2,908
2001- 3,055
2002-199 2,931

Standardbred
1990-16,576
1995-11,845
1998-10,881
1999-11,183
2000-11,281
2001-11,261
2002-11,699

Thoroughbred (we'll include all years here, because this breed was specifically mentioned).
1990-44,143
1991-41,801
1992-38,437
1993-37,136
1994-35,340
1995-34,977
1996-35,361
1997-35,139
1998-36,011
1999-36,885
2000-37,607
2001-36,800*
2002-35,600*


All time high number in the past two decades was 51,296 in 1986. Only three years in the past two decades have had a TB foal crop of 50,000 or more 1985, 1986, 1987.
*estimated figures


TOTALS of all breeds listed above, plus mini-horse registrations (less than 10,000 in any year represented - not represented above because they don't fall into the same category as far as slaughter goes and this is a ton of typing).

1990-234,587
1995-232,081
1998-268,387
1999-289,054
2000-298,193
2001-296,906
2002-304,530


<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

Not meaning to get into a numbers debate here - but whether 20,000 is the correct number annually in NA, or 50,000 is or 75,000 - what do you propose doing with those sheer numbers if slaughter is no longer a viable option? Where would these horses go?

"Spot"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

What do you think became of all of those (and we are talking 100's of thousands here) that were not slaughtered in the years that the numbers dropped, while major breed registry figures were going up? Someone else, besides the meat man, bought them, or they were euthanised or they weren't sold. I hardly think there are 100's of thousands of starving/neglected horses out there. And it is a numbers debate. The numbers show the facts.

It's all nice and neat to attribute slaughter as a necessary evil for getting rid of the 'surplus' of horses, rather than just face the facts - it's a business - with a demand for a product, not a "need" or "necessary" at all. A surplus - or lack thereof - coupled with the demand only sets the price, but does not create a demand for the product just by virtue of being more than are wanted/needed for original intended purposes. Slaughter exists because of a demand, period. If there were no demand, no horses would be slaughtered for human consumption, period.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[BoldChance]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gray17htb:
I hope everyone takes a good look at these pictures and then come back and post again about how you needed that $600 <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

They're quite graphic, and indeed, do offend our sensibilities. But it doesn't mean it's inhumane. It may well be in that particular plant, but not necessarily.

AND, the exact same thing happened to the cow or pig eaten last night for supper. Why is it more acceptable for them?

Personally, looking at that site didn't really affect me. It was sickening and sad, yes, moreso as I'm certain the mare I learned how to ride on went to slaughter, but knowing that people who've visited the slaughter houses have seen relaxed animals and a quick end to consciousness that means they do NOT feel pain (nevermind that really, skinning the horse doesn't matter, it is DEAD by then in all senses of the word) makes it easier to stomach.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Two Toofs:
Slaughter exists because of a demand, period. If there were no demand, no horses would be slaughtered for human consumption, period.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Slaughter exists because there is a demand, yes., and it's not just for human consumption. Our dogs and cats also eat equine meat. This does NOT come from rendering - chemically euthanized animals cannot be consumed and many rendered animals were chemically euthanized.

Furthermore, were there no demand and equine slaughter non-existant, there WOULD be an over-population of horses. Because suddenly the horses that supply this demand would no longer have that outlet, and they would continue to live either in large pastures, overrun and underfed, or in horrific conditions. Backyard breeders will not stop breeding useless horses...

And I'm not talking about the ones that will increase the breed registry populations, but the ill-mannered "pet" with a twisted hock that makes him drag that hind every step every day of his life. Where will he go when the "breeder" who wanted a "cute foal" out of their ill-conformed mare and neighbors poorly built stud suddenly decides they don't want him anymore because he's not a "cute foal" or they can't afford to feed him and don't care to spend the money to put him down or bury him? If not slaughter...

It's a sad, but necessary evil. Just as it is with cattle, pigs, sheep, and every other livestock that is consumed somewhere in the world. in certain countries, cows are sacred and the slaughter of so many head of cattle would have the citizens up in arms.

B

*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
Lindsay & Chance
"Success is relative to how well you stay
on the horse."
^^^^Proud member of the DCSC!^^^^
&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&

[Tiffany formerly BigOxer]

No horse deserves to go to a slaughter house. That is inhumane and disgusting. The thought of just eating horse meat makes my blood run cold. Not sure what New Holland is, but I have seen the topic around here on the COTH, is it a slaughter house? I think the best way to help the horse is to put it to sleep. It won't feel any pain, and will be happy over the Rainbow Bridge.

7 days without horses makes one weak.

[Two Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by BoldChance:

Furthermore, were there no demand and equine slaughter non-existant, there WOULD be an over-population of horses. Because suddenly the horses that supply this demand would no longer have that outlet, and they would continue to live either in large pastures, overrun and underfed, or in horrific conditions. Backyard breeders will not stop breeding useless horses...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Where is the surplus now? According to the numbers, we should have a surplus in the millions by now. By this logic, we should be fileting Fido and shipping the cuts to Asia. After all, there is a surplus population to deal with, is there not? The costs for euthanizing a dog aren't that far off from those to euthanize a horse. It's not an outlet, folks. They will be slaughtered as long as it is legal and people are willing to pay a price to do so. Supply goes down, price goes up. They are slaughtered regardless. Supply only effects the price, not the need. It's truly Business or Ecnomics 101 at any community college (or hell, high school level for that matter).

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>

And I'm not talking about the ones that will increase the breed registry populations, but the ill-mannered "pet" with a twisted hock that makes him drag that hind every step every day of his life. Where will he go when the "breeder" who wanted a "cute foal" out of their ill-conformed mare and neighbors poorly built stud suddenly decides they don't want him anymore because he's not a "cute foal" or they can't afford to feed him and don't care to spend the money to put him down or bury him? If not slaughter...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

So only (or mostly) grade horses or injured horses go to slaughter is what you are saying?

And re: pet foods - you'll find that horsemeat makes up a very small percentage overall, and it would very doubtfully effect the petfood market in any significant way. People want quality feed for their pets, they don't specifically want quality horsemeat for their pets. People who want to eat horses, want to eat horses - not just cows or chickens or pigs or whatever.

Like I said above, it's much easier to justify if you call it a "need" instead of recognizing that it is a "demand", period.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[Kath]

As far as slaughter goes: The process is horrible for animals. It's stressful and there's a possibility that they will not be unconscious for the bloodletting. This goes for ALL animals. I do not think that there is a difference between a horse's ability to feel pain and a cow's. I don't eat meat; I don't wear leather. I do think that applying a set of values to one type of animal and not to others is odd.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Look on the shelves in the stores. It is a very small percentage that includes horsemeat.

And as for the numbers, everytime I have been to an auction, most are registered horses.

We do have an overpopulation of cats and dogs. How come there are not cat and dog slaughter houses. Is there a need for that?

Darlyn
http://www.fairviewhorsecenter.com

Are We Having Fun Yet?

[Ishi]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fairview Horse Center:
We do have an overpopulation of cats and dogs. How come there are not cat and dog slaughter houses. Is there a need for that?
QUOTE]

There are dog and cat slaughter houses, they are called humane societies, private shelters, and manicipal shelters. While we do 110% for these cats and dogs, these unwanted animals, there are still too many and they are euthanized.

Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love. We call this stable management.
- George H. Morris
http://community.webshots.com/user/flycak

[Two Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ishi:

There are dog and cat slaughter houses, they are called humane societies, private shelters, and manicipal shelters. While we do 110% for these cats and dogs, these unwanted animals, there are still too many and they are euthanized.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

There is a HUGE difference between a dog or cat being euthanized at a local private facility and the trip to the slaughter house for a horse.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[Impromptu]

Off to the barn soon to have a *clears throat* talk with the owner.
I still don't have time to write a real response, so I'll just leave y'all with some pictures of the cutie!
the Meekster
He is so friendly once you've gained his trust

-------------------------
You can hitch a hackney to the Budweiser cart, but it wont make him a clydesdale
-------------------------
http://community.webshots.com/user/stainlesssteal

[Ishi]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Two Toofs:
There is a HUGE difference between a dog or cat being euthanized at a local private facility and the trip to the slaughter house for a horse.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Really? Because I never said a local private facility. I think it would be great if all pet owners would go to their vet to have their dog euthanized, but shelters can do it no/low cost, so many end up there saying, "It's just a dog." like so many people say, "It's just a horse, send him down the road and let's be done with it."

I also said nothing about transport. Just that we do euthanaze unwanted cats and dogs just like horses. They need to go somewhere and so they do. There is also a huge difference between a municipal shelter and a privately funded one.

Good luck Impromptu!

Love means attention, which means looking after the things we love. We call this stable management.
- George H. Morris
http://community.webshots.com/user/flycak

[Two Toofs]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ishi:


Really? Because I never said a local private facility. I think it would be great if all pet owners would go to their vet to have their dog euthanized, but shelters can do it no/low cost, so many end up there saying, "It's just a dog." like so many people say, "It's just a horse, send him down the road and let's be done with it."
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Forgive me for misquoting you. A public facility?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>
I also said nothing about transport. Just that we do euthanaze unwanted cats and dogs just like horses. They need to go somewhere and so they do. There is also a huge difference between a municipal shelter and a privately funded one.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Except that you are euthanizing them, which is, I presume from your descriptions, a hell of a lot friendlier to the animal than stuffing it in a over-crowded transport vehicle for hours (days some times)- sometimes while suffering from lameness or other severe injury- then nailing it in the head, stringing it up and slitting it's throat.

No one is objecting to that fact that not all horses can live forever, and sometimes circumstances require their lives to be ended, it's the method of death (and the time period beforehand) that is the issue. Comparing it with euthanizing cats and dogs is apples and oranges, as far as the circumstances are concerned.

Two Toofs
(formerly - but still - NDANO)

[Ridge Runner]

I agree that dogs and cats at shelters have a far more humane end then a horse going through a slaughter house and the long ride there jammed into an overcrowded truck.

What does it say for our society that we just discard animals like we do? I think what happens is that once the animal is "out of sight, out of mind" and it's easy not to think of it and to forget without guilt. I remember seeing a TV special about how California started a public education campaign where they filmed dogs and cats being put down in the shelters and they showed it on TV. They also fined people for "unplanned" litters of dogs and taxed breeders who produced puppies to sell. Once people had to watch Fido that they sent to the shelter die on TV, they could no longer ignore the suffering that they caused. If I'm not mistaken, the problem of unwanted strays in CA greatly decreased after that.

Perhaps horse people should have to have a similar education. Someone ought to make a video showing the killer auctions, transport to slaughter, what happens in the slaughterhouse and distribute it. I bet guilt would get the better of a lot of folks and you'd see a lot fewer horses being thrown away at these auctions like dogs and cats are thrown away to the shelters.

Just a thought. There's got to be a better way to answer the problem than the way it's done now.

"Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you. Give me a pig. He just looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal" Winston Churchill
"No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle..." Winston Churchill

[faraway46]

I see statistics here and there...2 gazillion bred , 3 drillion killed, what do we do with the surplus..bla,bla,bla. There's just one question I want to ask everybody (and please answer after visiting your horse first): Can you REALLY eat horse meat?!? After all they've done for our history, for our developement, for our lives?!? I mean, no disrespect for the cows but, if history were different, Napoleon would be looking over his troops sitting on a pretty white cow!!!
I know it sounds selfish for the cows, pigs, sheep and chickens (which also suffer from cruel slaughter methods and which I also strongly disapprove), but I can't eat horse 'cause I can't eat dog or cat or a fellow human being... I have a bond with them, I know how they react, how they feel, because they're part of my day to day life, and since I know them so well, I can practically feel what they would go through if I sent them to slaughter. I probably wouldn't eat cowmeat if I had a cow as a pet (although I have bought 3 sheep, 2 pigs, a dozen chickens and a goat during my various trips to slaughter auctions where I bought horses, too...all of them are on my farm, growing old). Just as Ishi said there are "slaughter houses" for our cats & dogs, why don't we eat them, too? I know in some cultures they do. Most people can't because they have a daily relationship with these animals and just can't sink their teeth into old "Spot". Well, I just can't dig in to a fellow living being that is so nobel, so loyal, so ready to please and has given me so much asking nothing in return ( come to think of it,I should send my husband to slaughter sometimes, since he usually lacks these traits...ha ha )
Maybe it's not fair to other living beings that are bred to feed us, and sometimes I do have issues with that, but I dare anybody to really look into a horse's eyes and after that tell me you can dig into a tasty Mchorsey...

[Spot]

faraway46 - I dont think that any of us are saying that we want to eat horse meat - far from it - just that there is a need for slaughter houses, because there is still a viable and profitable market for horse meat.

Especially over in Europe - and I think Aurum, and Alexandra and all of our other European members can attest to this fact - horse meat is as commonplace over there as beef is over here - not because they dont love their horses, but they view them more as livestock than pets over there.
If they compete, or are sold - thats fine, but if they dont, I dont think many farmers over there would think twice about re-couping part of their investment by sending them off to the slaughterhouse. They operate the same "culling" principle as farmers over here would with their cattle herds.

A good friend of mine is European in background. A discussion came up a year or two back with their father, as to what to do with the older mares in their herd once breeding soundness days were over.
My friend, of course, wanted to bury them on the farm and the father said "why? Why would you want to BURY them when we could get XX for them by sending them off to be eaten?" In his eyes (because of having the European background and viewing them as livestock) it made as much sense to bury them as it would to euthanize and bury the cows, pigs and sheep.

There isnt a right and/or a wrong answer here. Two Toofs - I won't get into any heated debate with you over numbers - there is simply no constructive point in doing so - I dont have any idea where 20,000 or 50,000 or ??? of horses would go if slaughter houses were outlawed tomorrow, any more than you or any other poster on this board would. It also makes no difference to call it a "need' or a "demand". The same end results - there is a viable market which generates revenue through the sale of horse meat, and as long as that demand/market/condition exists, horses will continue to be slaughtered to fulfill that *need*.

Yes TwoToofs - there is also a viable market in the FarEast areas for cat and also dog meat. Black dogs especially as their flesh is apparently the most tender. Racks of dogs - alive - with their forelegs broken at the shoulder, rotated back and tied together are hung in a line for purchasers to examine, before they make their selection and buy them. They are then carted off the same way - alive - and hanging off a pole to be eaten at home or served up in their restaurant.

Cats dont fare much better over there.

Gorilla's dont have it great either - chopping off their paws to make neat looking ashtrays, or how about black bears being slaughtered for their gall bladders so some Chinese guy can turn into Mr Super Stud by drying, grinding and ingesting the stuff? Think Rhino horns - for the same aphrodisiac properties - I dont think the Rhino's are too impressed either.

On and on it goes - as long as there is a demand for whatever product, there will be people that profit from it - legally or illegally.

Are we better off having government run and examined and monitored facilities running the slaughter houses, or outlawing them entirely and having some guys furtively buying up or stealing horses to kill out back and ship out in containers to satisfy the market demand?

It will never go away as long as there is a demand. So - I believe the answer lies not in trying to outlaw them entirely, but as many posters have stated, to make the auction houses and handling as humane as possible and lobby to make the transport to the slaughter houses as easy as possible on the horses involved.

"Spot"

[lucky2day99]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fairview Horse Center:
Look on the shelves in the stores. It is a very small percentage that includes horsemeat.

And as for the numbers, everytime I have been to an auction, most are registered horses.

We do have an overpopulation of cats and dogs. How come there are not cat and dog slaughter houses. Is there a need for that?

Darlyn
http://www.fairviewhorsecenter.com

Are We Having Fun Yet?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

As Ishi said-- there are tons of slaughter houses for cats and dogs-- just not your idea of a slaughter house.

And as for the trip to the slaughter house for a horse-- what else realistically can or will be done? Honestly, I would not make this decision for my mare or gelding-- but not everyone is going to be able to put down their horse and bury it in a field.

I do not think slaughter is inherently wrong. If I did then I should turn vegetarian because what is wrong for a horse is probably no more wrong than for a cow or pig. Hyprocritical personally in my view if one is speaking about animal welfare.

I have a problem with how horses are transported but not the fact that the horse is being slaughtered for human consumption.

[Fairview Horse Center]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Fairview Horse Center:
Saving the horse would not be the issue. I don't have a problem with putting down a dangerous horse or even them becoming meat. I highly object to the way they are handled in the process.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

As I said.

Slaughter may be something livestock people can live with, but not Horse people. Horse people got into this world, not because they inherited the family ranch, and just carried on making a living. Horse people became caretakers of horses because they truly feel a special bond with the horse, and have since they were tiny children. Seeing a horse in a field was truly more special than a trip out for ice cream (although their siblings thought they were nuts) I thank God every day, that he has worked it out that I can spend all of my hours with horses. I am blessed.

When they become just a way to make a living, when they become livestock, when it becomes a matter of not caring what happens to them when they are no longer of use to me, when I would rather make a few hundred bucks than know they met a peaceful end, I will no longer be the person that should be their caretaker.

I have no objection to horses going for meat, I highly object to what happens to them until death. They should be treated carefully, and kindly, with respect for their individual space, and needs. They should be calmly led to a place that is clean, calm, and quiet, and killed instantly.

Darlyn
http://www.fairviewhorsecenter.com

Are We Having Fun Yet?

[Ridge Runner]

Nice post Daryln, my sentiments exactly.

One thing that I haven't figured out yet about folks that eat horsemeat...aren't they worried about the drugs, wormers, etc...that are given to the North American horses they are eating? It says right on a tube of wormer..."Not for use in animals intended for human consumption." I know the FDA has regulations about what meat animals in the US can eat and be medicated with prior to slaughter. I sure wouldn't want to eat old Dobbin who lived on bute the last few years of his life.

Not too long ago, bute was banned in Europe because of the concerns that it was getting into people that ate horsemeat and causing health concerns. It raised quite a commmotion as bute was no longer available to folks with competitive or older horses and I think there was a black market for it for a while. I heard talk of microchipping horses that were given bute to mark them as unsafe for human consumption. What ever happened to that...does anyone know? Let some horseeating person tell me that I can't give my horse bute anymore in case they might want to eat him one day and watch the fur fly! I do see that as a potential issue for North American horse owners as more and more horsemeat is shipped to Europe for food. I would hate to see laws passed here limiting therapeutic treatments for our horses so they will be theoretically safer for someone to eat.

"Dogs look up to you, cats look down on you. Give me a pig. He just looks you in the eye and treats you as an equal" Winston Churchill
"No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle..." Winston Churchill

[Spot]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> I have no objection to horses going for meat, I highly object to what happens to them until death. They should be treated carefully, and kindly, with respect for their individual space, and needs. They should be calmly led to a place that is clean, calm, and quiet, and killed instantly <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darlyn - that is it in a nutshell, isnt it?

"Spot"

[faraway46]

I agree with Fairview's post. I'm a horse person and I just can't send them off to be eaten because I love horses and I know and have felt all the joy they bring to our lives. I just don't think being eaten is a dignified way to go. It's not right or wrong, it's just a feeling. Those old mares in pasture that Spot refered to, I'm sure were not raised for slaughter (since it's unproductive to keep an animal till old age untill you kill it), so once all their job was done, off they go to Burgerland? I just can't send an animal that shared my life off to execution. Even animals let their old ones just die, they don't jump to their throats and eat them once they've gotten arthritis. How would you feel if once you've retired, your old colleagues stuck you in a pot and made a nice stew out of you? I feel that in this point animals show their superiority.
Of course it's hypocritical to say this about horses and not other animals, but I'm sure those who have pet pigs never touched a pork chop again. If some people like horse meat, so be it. Live and let live (or eat and let eat, in this case).But because of this, and since there is a demand, everything should be done in the most humane way. Maybe it would be best to pass out a law that all animals bought for slaughter should be killed in the auction premises (each auction site should make some modifications) and thus avoid the whole transportation problem, which seems to be the main issue. It would be better for the meat companies 'cause you could transport more animals dead than when they're alive. And once the've arrived you'd go through the rest of the process (maybe all this is bizzare, I'm not too familiar with the slaughter procedures and the federal sanitary laws of the US)
But anyway, no harm ment, it's just my opinion and my feelings. Everybody should do what they feel and are comfortable with on these matters. It's a very personal thing.

[This message was edited by faraway46 on May. 20, 2003 at 04:13 PM.]

[Evalee Hunter]

you are wrong about one thing: I have eaten pet pigs & I have eaten milk cows when they were no longer milking & I have eaten pet chickens, too. My father used to chop the heads off the hens that weren't laying & the roosters & then I helped my mother pluck & clean them. I can remember sitting at the dinner table on a dairy farm I worked at & the daughter asking her father, "Who are we eating tonight?" & her mother replied, "Fern". If you grew up on a farm (at least back in the 1940s & 1950s), you would not even cringe at eating a pet because you would have been brought up that way.

ALSO, the reason we do not export dog meat is because the dog eating countries believe the dog must be BEATEN TO DEATH slowly in order to have the most tender meat. They would not take the meat from a dog that was humanely killed by something like CO2 or CO because there is an absolute requirement that the dog be in terror for a period of time before dying.

There are MUCH WORSE fates than a slaughter house & the one thing I want to see is: if slaughter is to continue it will be in this country where it can be regulated.

Having said that, I will not send a horse to slaughter.

www.rougelandfarm.com Home of TB stallion Alae Rouge, sire of our filly Rose, ribbon-winner on the line at Dressage at Devon.