Comments on the Ethical Question of the Month: July 2017 (CVJ 2017;58:651)

Canada is a major international supplier of horse meat in the world. In 2016, over 54 000 horses were slaughtered in this country. It is estimated that 65% to 70% of the horses slaughtered in Canada originate from the United States. This is because horse slaughter ceased in the United States in 2007. Also, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 5839 live horses were shipped to Japan for slaughter in 2016.

Horse slaughter in Canada has become a contentious issue in recent years. There have been numerous undercover recordings showing the improper stunning of horses. This is normally accomplished through the use of a captive bolt or .22 rifle. However, the flight response of horses can make it extremely difficult to properly stun the animals. As a result, a number of horses have been documented bleeding out while still conscious. There are also issues with respect to horses being slaughtered that have been treated with drugs such as phenylbutazone and clenbuterol. Health Canada deems that such drugs is unacceptable in meat destined for human consumption. Unlike other farm animals, horses are not traditionally raised as food producing animals in North America.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is the mandated agency responsible for ensuring that animals are transported in a humane manner. The CFIA is also the agency responsible for the oversight of animal slaughter in all federal abattoirs. The Health of Animals Regulations Part XII — Transportation of Animals have been in place for about 40 years and are currently under review, awaiting updating.

With respect to transporting horses, once again through undercover footage, there has been documentation of infractions of humane transport under the Health of Animals Regulations. Many of the horses being shipped to Japan by air for slaughter are large draft breeds and are well over 14 hands. Section 141 (8) of the said regulations dictate that all horses over 14 hands are required to be segregated (so as to prevent injuries). This has not been the case with these shipments. As well, section 142 of these same regulations require that each animal is able to stand in its natural position without coming into contact with the roof or top of the container. There is also documented evidence showing that this has not been the case with many of the larger horses. As a result of lack of enforcement of the Health of Animals Regulations, a number of horses in these shipments to Japan have been injured and have died. These animals are being shipped to Japan in wooden crates containing 3 or 4 horses per container and the horses are unsegregated. International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations do not sanction the use of such containers for horses and IATA loading densities are not being respected with many of these shipments. The result is horses have lost their balance and fallen. And without adequate room to get up, they have been injured and killed.

Many horses, in particular ones destined for slaughter, also suffer while being transported by land. As most horses being slaughtered in Canada originate from the United States, many are transported long distances. The current federal legislation allows for horses to be transported for up to 36 hours without food, water, and rest. Studies have shown that horses become physiologically compromised and severely dehydrated at periods of more than 24 hours in transit.

The Health of Animals Regulations for transport of animals require that horses be segregated if the hind feet of the horses are shod. Animals that are incompatible by nature must also be segregated. Compromised horses (nonambulatory, injured, heavily pregnant and imminently due to give birth on the journey, distressed, sick, weak, and extremely thin animals) are not to be transported. Also, the animals must not be overcrowded. There must be adequate ventilation, the conveyance is required to be sound (no weak floors, holes in the flooring, insecure fittings or foreign objects or protrusions that could cause injuries), and there must be adequate bedding. There is no requirement, however, for horses from the United States to be off-loaded at the points of entry. Therefore, how can a proper assessment of these issues be made when these animals are arriving in Canada? Also, there are numerous documented cases of “unwanted” horses arriving at auction markets heavily pregnant, that foal shortly after arrival.

In summary, overbreeding in the equine industry is leading to a huge number of unwanted horses. If slaughter continues to be a solution to this issue, as sanctioned by the very industry that contributes to the overbreeding, then it is incumbent on the authorities to ensure that horses are transported and slaughtered humanely.