Suffering And Disease Lurk Behind European Horse Meat Trade, Say World Horse Welfare
11 years ago
2478 views
Obese Polish horse with rubbing injury. Photo credit: World Horse Welfare
Horse meat discovered in beef products is the product of suffering and the spread of disease, according to World Horse Welfare. The charity is concerned about the casual attitude by some commentators towards eating horse meat while the abuse of horses that is rife in the trade goes largely unreported.
“Where there is horse meat, you can bet there is horse suffering and not just at the time of slaughter. This is no laughing matter. The whole European trade is mired in inadequate laws, needless suffering and the elephant in the room is the spread of infectious equine disease,” says World Horse Welfare chief executive Roly Owers.
The charity does not oppose humane slaughter or the eating of humanely produced horse meat, which is a personal choice, but it is campaigning to stop the needless long distance transportation of 65,000 horses per year across Europe to slaughter. As part of their evidence-backed campaign the charity undertakes regular field investigations documenting the abuses of the horse slaughter trade.
Obese Polish horse covered in own faeces after transport. Photo credit: World Horse Welfare
Most live horses destined for slaughter are currently sourced from eastern Europe and more recently Spain, and the leading importer of live horses for slaughter is Italy, with France and Belgium importing smaller numbers.
“In the recent horse burger scandal for instance, we know from experience that meat originating in Poland could have been from horses bred for slaughter and fattened to the point of obesity,” says Owers. “Or the meat could have come from working horses, young horses or unwanted horses outside of the country, who in all likelihood could have been travelled for days on end over thousands of miles with little food, water or rest, enduring terrible conditions, pain, injury, dehydration and disease.”
The spread of infectious equine disease is a primary concern. Scientific evidence shows that horses’ immune systems become compromised on long journeys and World Horse Welfare regularly sees a great number of slaughter horses showing clinical signs of disease, particularly discharge from the eyes and nose.
Polish horse tail worn away red raw. Photo credit: World Horse Welfare
For instance World Horse Welfare field investigations undertaken in September 2010 and February 2011 examined horses intended for slaughter and found that 93% of the horses in one shipment of horses showed clinical signs of disease.
“While there is not yet a proven link between the continental horse slaughter trade and Britain’s first cases of Equine Infectious Anaemia for30 years in 2010 and again in 2012, there is no doubt that the spread of disease in Europe is a real issue for horse welfare and an issue for Britain,” says Owers.
Equine Infectious Anaemia is prevalent in Europe, and endemic in parts of Eastern Europe, and is a notifiable disease that requires the destruction of horses carrying it. There are also far more destructive diseases like African Horse Sickness which spread in the same way and could get a foothold in Europe, and so threaten Britain’s £7 billion equine industry.
World Horse Welfare field investigations in 2010-2011 found that:2478 views
Posted
8th February, 2013 13h19
- Disease spread major concern – 93% of just one shipment showed clinical signs
- Horses fattened to obesity and pushed to limits during transport
- Painful journeys to slaughter can last for days on end causing injury, dehydration and exhaustion
- 85% of horses had at least one acute injury. Many of these were the result of inadequate space on the vehicles which caused friction injuries on sides and tails.
- Behavioural data from one randomly selected shipment observed in 2010 showed that 94% of horses had an abnormal stance and 83% were weight-shifting, both of which are indicative of pain or discomfort.
- In one report 14% of Equidae were deemed unfit to be transported at the commencement of their journey from Romania to Italy; this figure was more than doubled at the time of arrival at their destination to 37%. World Horse Welfare consistently records Equidae that are unfit for transportation during field investigations.
- World Horse Welfare has demonstrated that Equidae currently have limited, if any, access to water prior to, during, or after these journeys. Under these conditions Equidae would become severely dehydrated within 10 hours.
More from
- IVC Evidensia assembles expert team to run new £10m referral hospital
- Home delivery service can increase pet health plan sign-ups by 25%
- Research reveals vital clues to help fight anthelmintic resistance
- Lifetime Achievement Award recognises Harrogate vet’s dedication to improving the health and welfare of rabbits
- Bake sale at Leicestershire vet practice for good cause