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{{Short description|Killing of horses, sometimes for meat}}
'''Horse slaughter''' is the practice of [[Slaughter (livestock)|slaughtering]] [[horse]]s to produce [[horse meat|meat]] for consumption. Humans have long consumed horse meat; the oldest known cave art, the 30,000-year-old paintings in France's [[Chauvet Cave]], depict horses with other wild animals hunted by humans.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chav/hd_chav.htm |title=Chauvet Cave (ca. 30,000 B.C.)", Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, retrieved May 9, 2012 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905180753/http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/chav/hd_chav.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Domestication of the horse|Equine domestication]] is believed to have begun to raise horses for human consumption.<ref>[http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2007/llam1/horses1.html Early Domestication of Horse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121202061837/http://fubini.swarthmore.edu/~ENVS2/S2007/llam1/horses1.html |date=2012-12-02 }}, Lilian Lam, Swarthmore College Environmental Studies, retrieved May 9, 2012</ref><ref>p. 21. Élise Rousseau. 2017. ''Horses of the World.'' Princeton University Press.</ref> The practice has become [[Equine Ethics|controversial]] in some parts of the world due to several concerns: whether horses are (or can be) managed humanely in industrial
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[[File:Betäubung.jpeg|thumb|right|upright|Directions for positioning bolt gun to ensure swift humane death of animal]]
In most countries where horses are slaughtered for food, they are processed in industrial [[abattoir]]s similarly to cattle. Typically, a penetrating [[captive bolt gun]] or gunshot is used to render the animal unconscious. The blow (or shot) is intended to kill the horse instantly or stun it,<ref>[http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusfd7usca1901.htm United States Humane Slaughter Act] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414230027/http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusfd7usca1901.htm |date=2012-04-14 }}, § 1902 Humane Methods, retrieved May 10, 2012</ref> with [[exsanguination]] (bleeding out) conducted immediately afterwards to ensure death.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.grandin.com/ritual/euthanasia.slaughter.livestock.html|title=Euthanasia and slaughter of livestock|journal=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|first=Temple|last=Grandin|date=1994|volume=204|issue=9|pages=1354–1360|doi=10.2460/javma.1994.204.09.1354 |pmid=8050971|access-date=2020-09-15|archive-date=2020-06-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617010556/http://www.grandin.com/ritual/euthanasia.slaughter.livestock.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Saleable meat is removed from the carcass, with the remains [[Rendering (food processing)|rendered]] for other commercial uses.
According to equine-welfare advocates, the physiology of the equine cranium is such that neither the penetrating captive bolt gun nor gunshots are reliable means of killing (or stunning) a horse; the animal may be only paralyzed. Unless properly checked for vital signs, a horse may remain conscious and experience pain during skinning and butchering.<ref>[http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/captive_bolt.htm Use of the 'Penetrating Captive Bolt' As A Means Of Rendering Equines Insensible For Slaughter Violates The Humane Slaughter Act Of 1958] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413124211/http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/captive_bolt.htm |date=2012-04-13 }}, Manes and Tails Organization, retrieved May 10, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-images.php Horse Slaughter Images and Description] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015181434/http://www.horsefund.org/horse-slaughter-images.php |date=2012-10-15 }}, Intl' Fund for Horses, retrieved May 10, 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/Canadians--Act-Now-to-Ban-Horse-Slaughter-.aspx Canadians: Act Now to Ban Horse Slaughter!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519055844/http://www.peta.org/action/action-alerts/Canadians--Act-Now-to-Ban-Horse-Slaughter-.aspx |date=2012-05-19 }}, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, retrieved May 10, 2012,</ref>
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== Controversy ==
In some countries, horses are perceived
Several equine and animal-welfare organizations oppose slaughter or support a ban on horse slaughter,<ref name="VFEW">{{cite web|publisher=Veterinarians for Equine Welfare|url=http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/white_paper.php|year=2011|access-date=September 20, 2016|title=Horse slaughter–its ethical impact and subsequent response of the veterinary profession|archive-date=June 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160607173234/http://www.vetsforequinewelfare.org/white_paper.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="HS Horse slaughter">{{cite web|title=The facts about horse slaughter|url=http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/horse_slaughter/facts/facts_horse_slaughter.html|access-date=September 20, 2016|publisher=The Humane Society of the United States|archive-date=September 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927135042/http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/horse_slaughter/facts/facts_horse_slaughter.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="AWI Horse slaughter">{{cite web|url=http://awionline.org/content/horse-slaughter|title=Horse slaughter|access-date=September 20, 2016|publisher=Animal Welfare Institute|archive-date=October 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023111250/http://awionline.org/content/horse-slaughter|url-status=live}}</ref> but other animal organizations and animal-agriculture groups support the practice. According to livestock-slaughter expert [[Temple Grandin]], horse slaughter can be humane with proper facility design and management.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grandin|first1=Temple|title=Answering Questions about Animal Welfare during Horse Slaughter|url=http://www.grandin.com/humane/questions.answers.horse.slaughter.html|access-date=29 January 2016|archive-date=13 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113114938/http://www.grandin.com/humane/questions.answers.horse.slaughter.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
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===Long-distance transport===
==Worldwide==
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| style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;" colspan=2|* Includes donkeys
|}
{{clear}}
==Ireland==
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Horses in the United States are not bred or raised for meat. Nearly all equine medications and treatments are labeled, "Not for horses intended for human consumption." Meat from American horses raises a number of potential health concerns, primarily due to the routine use of medications banned in food animals and a lack of tracking of such use. Unlike livestock raised for food (where all potential medications are tested for withdrawal times and vigilantly tracked), there is no way to guarantee which medications have been used in a particular horse. During November and December 2010 inspections of EU-regulated plants in Mexico which slaughtered horses for human consumption, the European Commission Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) uncovered violations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120405004350/http://horsebackmagazine.com/hb/archives/8591 Horsebackmagazine.com] "In a report filed by the FVO (Food and Veterinary Office), a number of serious violations and actions taken were cited, including these noted by Animals’ Angels. Two out of five establishments failed to meet EU requirements relating to slaughter hygiene and water quality. Additionally, there were non-traceable carcasses, a number of which were in contact with EU eligible horse meat. No export certificates will be issued until these issues are satisfactorily resolved. Random samples were taken from horse meat processed in 2008, 2009 and 2010 tested positive for EU prohibited drug residues. Sworn statements made by horse owners on veterinary medical treatment histories were not authenticated and proven false, including cases of positive results for EU prohibited drug residues. From January and October 2010, of the 62,560 US horses shipped to slaughter 5,336 were rejected at the border due to advanced pregnancy, health problems or injuries. In a visit to one US export pen, 12 of the 30 horses held there were rejected."</ref> Most American horses destined for slaughter are transported to EU-regulated plants in Mexico and Canada. Horses, unlike traditional food animals in the United States, are not raised (or medicated) with the intent of becoming human food. Because American horses are not intended for the human food chain, they often receive medications banned by the [[Food and Drug Administration]] for use in food animals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bettingroyalascot.co.uk/|title=Royal Ascot 2021 | News | Runners | Betting on Ascot | Dates & Times|access-date=2020-09-15|archive-date=2020-08-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824082311/https://www.bettingroyalascot.co.uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> Concern also exists that horse meat will be mixed with ground-beef products<ref>{{cite news|last=Strom|first=Stephanie|title=U.S.D.A May Approve Horse Slaughtering|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/business/usda-may-approve-horse-slaughter-plant.html?_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=March 2013 |access-date=2014-04-19|archive-date=2013-11-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130103913/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/business/usda-may-approve-horse-slaughter-plant.html?_r=0|url-status=live}}</ref> and sold improperly labeled in the US, as occurred during the European [[2013 horse meat scandal]].
Before 2007, three major equine [[slaughterhouse]]s operated in the United States: Dallas Crown in [[Kaufman, Texas]]; Beltex Corporation in [[Fort Worth, Texas
The director of equine protection of [[the Humane Society of the United States]] reported seizing large numbers of horses, and equine-rescue facilities were taking in more horses than ever despite a record number of horses shipped to Canada and Mexico for slaughter.<ref name="suntimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/letters/364678,CST-EDT-VOX01a.article |publisher=Chicago Sun-Times |title=Don't ban horse slaughter in Illinois |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008151030/http://www.suntimes.com/news/commentary/letters/364678%2CCST-EDT-VOX01a.article |archive-date=2007-10-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>Amy Hamilton, [http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_97d6bcfc-2298-561e-963c-9b87c2817687.html Horse abandonment rises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805181103/http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_97d6bcfc-2298-561e-963c-9b87c2817687.html |date=2017-08-05 }}, January 24, 2010, trib.com</ref><ref>[http://www.gazette.com/articles/horse-93019-abandonment-junction.html Cases of horse neglect, abandonment growing in Colorado] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825175915/http://www.gazette.com/articles/horse-93019-abandonment-junction.html |date=2012-08-25 }}, January 24, 2010, Colorado Springs Gazette</ref> The equine market was saturated by increased breeding.<ref name=consequences>[http://www.animalwelfarecouncil.com/html/pdf/consequences.pdf The unintended consequences of a ban on the humane slaughter (processing) of horses in the United States] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707143541/http://www.animalwelfarecouncil.com/html/pdf/consequences.pdf |date=2011-07-07 }}, Animal Welfare Council, Inc.</ref>
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===Federal bills===
Slaughterhouses in the United States cannot legally operate without inspection by the [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]], a federal agency.
H.R. 2744-45 Sec 794, The Agriculture, Rural Development, [[Food and Drug Administration]] and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 2005-2006 was successfully passed to end funding for inspection, effectively ending the processing of horse meat in the US until a future government was willing to reinstate
In 2012, the Agriculture, Rural Development, [[Food and Drug Administration]], and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 excluded the wording necessary to continue blocking federal funds for USDA inspection of slaughterhouses processing horse meat <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kohl |first=Herb |date=2012-04-26 |title=S.2375 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 |url=http://www.congress.gov/ |access-date=2022-05-30 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref> In June
Efforts have been made to create a federal law ending the slaughter of American horses for human consumption.<ref name="saponline">{{Cite web|url=https://awionline.org/content/safeguard-american-food-exports-safe-act|title=Safeguard American Food Exports (SAFE) Act|website=Animal Welfare Institute|access-date=2020-09-15|archive-date=2020-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708095355/https://awionline.org/content/safeguard-american-food-exports-safe-act|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 8, 2006, the House of Representatives passed a bill which would have made killing or selling American horses for human consumption illegal in the United States; however, it was not passed by the Senate.<ref name="qjnet">{{Cite web |url=http://science.qj.net/New-US-Bill-Makes-Killing-Horses-for-Meat-Illegal-in-US/pg/49/aid/65094 |title=Science.qj.net: New US Bill Makes Killing Horses for Meat Illegal in US |access-date=2007-06-01 |archive-date=2007-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427035107/http://science.qj.net/New-US-Bill-Makes-Killing-Horses-for-Meat-Illegal-in-US/pg/49/aid/65094 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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{{anchor|Transportation of horses for slaughter}}
===Transport of horses for slaughter===
Although the [[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]] has officers at enforcement points to ensure the proper transportation of horses, it has no jurisdiction beyond transportation. Horses that "are severely lame or disabled are not accepted at the plants".{{citation needed|date=July 2017}}
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== United Kingdom ==
In the European [[2013 horse meat scandal]], foods advertised as containing beef were found to contain undeclared or improperly declared horse meat—100 percent of the meat content, in some cases.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-21375594|title=Findus lasagne beef '100% horsemeat'|work=BBC News |date=February 7, 2013|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329055853/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-21375594|url-status=live}}</ref> A smaller number of products also contained other undeclared meats, such as pork.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/16/tesco-burgers-off-shelves-horsemeat|title=Cameron tells supermarkets: horsemeat burger scandal unacceptable|date=January 16, 2013|website=the Guardian|access-date=September 15, 2020|archive-date=September 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906164601/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/16/tesco-burgers-off-shelves-horsemeat|url-status=live}}</ref> The issue came to light on January 15, 2013, when it was reported that equine DNA had been discovered in frozen
== See also ==
* {{Annotated link|Horse meat}}
* {{Annotated link|Meat horse}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Horse topics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Horse Slaughter}}
[[Category:Animal killing]]
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