horses for meat

I know its amazing isnt it
grin.gif


Give it time, insults from the dark side will be forthcoming shortly I'm sure
smirk.gif
 
I'm sorry i disagree!! A chicken isn't just a chicken...over the years specific types of chicken have been bred for either the egg or the meat (broiler) industry - belive me, youn wouldn't want to eat a hybrid layer!!!
the same goes for sheep and cows, it is totally pointless rearing any old cow, sheep or pig for meat, you have to take into consideration carcass comformation as to get the best end product on the table.
regarding horses....i'm not clued up on them for meat, but i know in france some of the heavier breeds are bred for this purpose, i have also heard, although i have no idea how true it is, that TB's are fasvoured due to their lean meat....you would want something with good quaters, and front ens, so maybe a native or native first cross....
 
Have you noticed that the only animals which are eaten are herbivores? Although saying that I know that hens and pigs are omnivores. Generally, its herbivores which are eaten.

Also in the animal kingdom, its herbivore gets eaten by carnivore. Its not very often that a carnivore gets eaten by carnivore.

Have you ever wondered why?

Also many animals are reared specifically for meat, the landrace pig for pork, broiler hens opposed to layers for eggs such as rhode island reds, etc.

I have known many animals and I can honestly say that they all have intelligence and personalities. I have known hens, sheep and a pig.

I think its something to do with disease control/parasite control and possibily taste.
 
That only really applies well to mamals! Care to have a little think about fish maybe? LOL Lots of fish are carnivours!...and taste great!
That tuna in your sandwich at lunchtime didn't have lettuce as a last meal, it had a smaller fish!

...and it's also cultural...dogs and cats are eaten by other cultures and dogs are omniviours, cats pure carnivours.


When it comes to animals actually farmed for consumption very few carnivours outside of some fish get farmed as it's a matter of efficiency...need to grow lots of food to feed the meat you feed to your carniverous animal....
 
QR




To those mentioning religion as a reason not to eat a horse....

Although I cannot quote the exact scripture, I always remember my grandmother saying that the Bible says we are only to eat cloven hooved animals.

Maybe I can ask her later where it says that.
 
Yes the Bible does say that people should not eat any animal without cloven hooves, Jade
smile.gif
.

Quarter Horses are probably an excellent choice for horsemeat, and in fact many of them are bred for the sole purpose of becoming meat in Canada
wink.gif
. When we were looking for our farm, we viewed a horsemeat farm; all Quarter Horses bred specifically for meat, all destined for Japan as live cargo.
 
Unclean animals
Main article: Unclean animals
In Judaism, Kashrut (kosher) is the set of dietary laws governing what may or may not be consumed. These laws are based upon the Torah and the Talmud. According to Jewish law, animals that both chew their cud (ruminate) and have cloven hooves are kosher[8]. Animals with one characteristic but not the other (the camel, the hyrax and the hare because they have no cloven hooves, and the pig because it does not ruminate) are specifically excluded[9] (Leviticus 11:3-8).[10] Jews are forbidden from eating pork, as swine are considered to be unclean. In the context of Judaism, the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy from the Hebrew Bible specify what must not be consumed.

The Book of Leviticus states:

“ Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them that only part the hoof: the camel, because he cheweth the cud but parteth not the hoof, he is unclean unto you. – Leviticus 11:4 ”

These are the animals considered to be unclean according to Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
 
Ok, confession time, please do not shoot me down for this because it was all hypothetical...

When I was at uni doing Equine Business Management, our final year dissertation was to create a business plan for an equine related business. Everyone was doing the usual liveries/riding schools etc so in an attempt to be different, I did mine on a UK based horsemeat production farm. Now, the breed I eventually decided on was the Russian draft mainly because it grows extremly quickly and it matures remarkably early compared to other heavy breeds (around 24 months).

Luckliy, based on the research I did on markets, slaughter prices and facilities (there are very few slaughterhouses in the UK licenced for the slaughter of horses for meat), it was a compltley unviable option in the UK, although i did speak to one farmer who was considering the business using Highland ponies, luckily, I think my work put him off.

And in case you think it is a sick choice for an equine dissertation, I got a 1st.
 
As I said on another post, I am vegetarian, but do not have a problem with horses being used for meat.

The problem I have is when animals are not treated with respect, dignity and humanity.

I find it (I will probably get shot down in flames here) hypocritical to eat animals yet have a problem with eating horses and at least they are not factory farmed (that I know of).

Gekko, you are right, I was talking about mammals as horses are mammals. Fish eat each other and humans eat the fish (but not me). I was talking in general terms.

During and just after the 2nd WW highland ponies were eaten as farms were becoming mechanised and there was a shortage of food - Source: Life of the Garron. (Garron is Scottish for highland pony).
 
Top