Those of you who are anti-slaughter, please read this

[Changes]

This is the study into what happened after the ban on horse slaughter in the US. Nothing nasty to look at, but the figures make grim reading.

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18429

 

[Amaranta]

Everyone who wants to ban slaughter in the UK should read this.

Thanks for posting

 

[Changes]

Indeed, Amaranta. It's vitally important that there are statistics to back up the argument to retain abattoirs, and open more, IMO.

This is not an issue to be complacent about, there were a lot of voices against the US ban that were drowned out in the hysteria of the anti slaughter bandwagon.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

I have never been able to get my head around this anti horse slaughter business a horse is a domesticated animal just the same as cattle sheep and pigs. And why is wrong for them to be bought in an auction and Humanely slaughtered! But it is alright to be kept on a scrubby piece of land on the outskirts of a town next to the disused Railway that floods half the winter and when the Knackerman drags them out of the mud on the end of winch wire late winter early spring its alright??

 

[Ashleigh_]

I too agree that organised and regulated horse slaughter should be reinstated in the US and I really hope that the UK never ban it for us here.

I know it sounds horrible for some people, but as others have already said I would far rather they were humanely slaughtered than left to suffer for a long time.

One of my main reasons for backing it though despite the obvious is that it not only offers an alternative to neglect and suffering but at least some horses can be killed before they are dispatched to mexico/canada etc. The traveling conditions for these poor horses are horrendous and I would far rather we delt with them on our own soil where we have far more control, then pass them over to some back yard meat dealer in Mexico - it is our fault with over breeding as a society so we should continue to deal with our problem ourselves. To me it makes far greater sense to travel them as a prepared carcass but then again, I know very little about food regulations etc - It could be complicated.

Sad subject for us all, reglardless of supportive/opposing opinions

 

[bumblelion]

I personally do not like the idea of slaughtering animals, however I eat them so can't complain too much! I refuse to eat anything from a slaughterhouse though! I only really eat game and deer which has been shot on the nearby estate. I believe this is kinder as it's had a relatively nice free life, been shot, done! I hate the whole commotion of slaughterhouses, my friend owns one and I was quite shocked. The animals sensed their fate, they were so stressed and it was just horrible to witness. I know they're never going to go though and accept that. The one thing that I wish would change though is live exportation, that in my opinion is cruel.

 

[Changes]

To me it makes far greater sense to travel them as a prepared carcass but then again, I know very little about food regulations etc - It could be complicated.

I completely agree with you, however what propagates the trade in live export (in and out of the UK) as opposed to carcass export is that the former is not regulated and the latter is.

Hence it becomes more expensive to ship chilled meat rather than livestock, although if regulations (health checks, journey times, lorry standards etc) were adhered to live export would be pricier.

There's a PDF file about the boats that supposedly ship 'sports horses' from Argentina to Spain or Italy. The giveaway is that it's produced by a food standards agency.

Until equines are regulated in the same manner as agricultural animals, there is no hope for them to have any form of controlled live transit.

 

[Wagtail]

I personally do not like the idea of slaughtering animals, however I eat them so can't complain too much! I refuse to eat anything from a slaughterhouse though! I only really eat game and deer which has been shot on the nearby estate. I believe this is kinder as it's had a relatively nice free life, been shot, done! I hate the whole commotion of slaughterhouses, my friend owns one and I was quite shocked. The animals sensed their fate, they were so stressed and it was just horrible to witness. I know they're never going to go though and accept that. The one thing that I wish would change though is live exportation, that in my opinion is cruel.

I agree. I only eat fish because I hate the farming, transportation and slaughter of animals. I am not against eating meat. Just the way we manage it and sell it so cheaply! So much as I love the taste of it. I don't eat it. So I am against mass slaughter and transportation of all animals. Not just horses. I did consider keeping a few sheep but knew I would never go through with the slaughter and that is why I gave up meat. I hate hypocrisy. That is also why I don't understand the outcry against horses being slaughtered from people who eat meat. To me, there is no difference between transporting and slaughtering a cow and a horse. Neither is very nice!

 

[indie999]

I agree. I only eat fish because I hate the farming, transportation and slaughter of animals. I am not against eating meat. Just the way we manage it and sell it so cheaply! So much as I love the taste of it. I don't eat it. So I am against mass slaughter and transportation of all animals. Not just horses. I did consider keeping a few sheep but knew I would never go through with the slaughter and that is why I gave up meat. I hate hypocrisy. That is also why I don't understand the outcry against horses being slaughtered from people who eat meat. To me, there is no difference between transporting and slaughtering a cow and a horse. Neither is very nice!

Absolutely and the USA meat industry is BIG! I wish they would have more abbatoirs(smaller ones too) like we use to have instead of transporting them miles crammed into lorries. That is cruel. We use to have a little abbatoir behind a local butcher and lots of people use to take their home bred to be slaughtered. They only ever did a few at a time.

Progress!?!

 

[Changes]

Absolutely and the USA meat industry is BIG! I wish they would have more abbatoirs(smaller ones too) like we use to have instead of transporting them miles crammed into lorries. That is cruel. We use to have a little abbatoir behind a local butcher and lots of people use to take their home bred to be slaughtered. They only ever did a few at a time.

Progress!?!

That's the crux of the matter and I wholeheartedly agree with you. Unfortunately as farming has gone industrial scale so has slaughter.
This so needs to be addressed.

 

[bumblelion]

Absolutely and the USA meat industry is BIG! I wish they would have more abbatoirs(smaller ones too) like we use to have instead of transporting them miles crammed into lorries. That is cruel. We use to have a little abbatoir behind a local butcher and lots of people use to take their home bred to be slaughtered. They only ever did a few at a time.

Progress!?!

Very true, I wish it was still like that. Would maybe put people off taking their pet cow to be killed for their spaghetti bolognese!

 

[chestnut cob]

I agree. I only eat fish because I hate the farming, transportation and slaughter of animals. I am not against eating meat. Just the way we manage it and sell it so cheaply! So much as I love the taste of it. I don't eat it. So I am against mass slaughter and transportation of all animals. Not just horses. I did consider keeping a few sheep but knew I would never go through with the slaughter and that is why I gave up meat. I hate hypocrisy. That is also why I don't understand the outcry against horses being slaughtered from people who eat meat. To me, there is no difference between transporting and slaughtering a cow and a horse. Neither is very nice!

You do know that a lot of the fish you get in the shops is farmed, don't you? And that the stocks of most fish found in the supermarket are at dangerously low levels? Farmed fish suffer from disease and are fed on fish meal that is made from other (ocean caught) fish. Not a nice thought. Ocean caught fish is an ecological disaster in most cases - look at the death and destruction caused by trawling. You say you are against mass slaughter yet 1000s of fish are killed to get that salmon or cod you like. We all know the stories of dolphins being killed by trawlers catching tuna. We have fished most stocks to near extinction - THAT is mass slaughter.

I agree re horses though. All animals deserve to be kept and killed humanely for meat, whether it is a sheep, a pig or a horse.

 

[Ashleigh_]

I completely agree with you, however what propagates the trade in live export (in and out of the UK) as opposed to carcass export is that the former is not regulated and the latter is.

Hence it becomes more expensive to ship chilled meat rather than livestock, although if regulations (health checks, journey times, lorry standards etc) were adhered to live export would be pricier.

There's a PDF file about the boats that supposedly ship 'sports horses' from Argentina to Spain or Italy. The giveaway is that it's produced by a food standards agency.

Until equines are regulated in the same manner as agricultural animals, there is no hope for them to have any form of controlled live transit.

What a shame I had a feeling it would be more complicated, thanks for the info. It's good to know there is a reason, all be it a pretty cr*p one. Let's hope improvements are made in the near future

 

[Enfys]

This is the study into what happened after the ban on horse slaughter in the US. Nothing nasty to look at, but the figures make grim reading.

http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=18429

Coincidental that you should post this, I've just received it in my newsletter and was going to do just the same.

Compelling reasons that Europe/Britain should never bow to the fluffies and ban horse slaughter facilities and cause the misery it has here.

 

[Megibo]

i'm not against slaughter when the animals are bred for it and are killed humanely. I also only eat meat from a butchers as you can be sure that way it was happily running around a day or so before and was treated well. i absolutely hate the halal method commonly used in slaughterhouses because it is cheaper.

I'll never agree with the slaughter of horses though. They're domesticated animals yes but give you so much more than a pig or a cow...
Honestly the things some horses can give to people and we repay that by neglecting, abandoning or killing them? I'll never understand it and it's also why I'll probably never sell a horse for fear of it ending up somewhere neglectful or indeed in a cheap sale to be bought for meat.

 

[Lady La La]

i'm not against slaughter when the animals are bred for it and are killed humanely. I also only eat meat from a butchers as you can be sure that way it was happily running around a day or so before and was treated well. i absolutely hate the halal method commonly used in slaughterhouses because it is cheaper.

I'll never agree with the slaughter of horses though. They're domesticated animals yes but give you so much more than a pig or a cow...
Honestly the things some horses can give to people and we repay that by neglecting, abandoning or killing them? I'll never understand it and it's also why I'll probably never sell a horse for fear of it ending up somewhere neglectful or indeed in a cheap sale to be bought for meat.

I see what you're saying, I also know that you are quite young.. but I do want to point out that ..the two abbatoirs that take horses in the UK kill them just as humanely as a vet or nackerman would.
The reasons why the horses are sent by their owners to be killed no one will ever know, perhaps they are lame or old, or perhaps they have behavioural issues? Reasons very similar to those who have their horses pts at home, maybe?
If you look at a few threads on here you'll see that a gun is the prefered method of dispatch for many members on here, as it is instant.
Slaughter houses sadly do a much needed job of clearing up the mess that indescriminate breeding has caused in this country. Instead of seeing horses neglected, without food or basic care.. would you not rather see their days ended humanely and safely? The current climate means that many horses owners cannot afford to pay a vet £500 to inject their horse at home, so perhaps an abbatoir really does have a place in todays world?
Just a few things for you to think about, before writing off the slaughter houses we have here.. compared to those abroad they are outstanding.

This wasn't intended as as offensive, or in any way a dig you or your beliefs.. I just think sometimes there is a bigger picture to be seen?

 

[lochpearl]

i'm not against slaughter when the animals are bred for it and are killed humanely. I also only eat meat from a butchers as you can be sure that way it was happily running around a day or so before and was treated well. i absolutely hate the halal method commonly used in slaughterhouses because it is cheaper.

I'll never agree with the slaughter of horses though. They're domesticated animals yes but give you so much more than a pig or a cow...
Honestly the things some horses can give to people and we repay that by neglecting, abandoning or killing them? I'll never understand it and it's also why I'll probably never sell a horse for fear of it ending up somewhere neglectful or indeed in a cheap sale to be bought for meat.

I'm afraid this is very naive and you are not looking at the full picture. If the slaughter houses were to close then where would all of these horses go? would you not rather they had a swift death than be trucked for miles and be abused on the way? Europeans will not stop eating horsemeat so there will always be demand.

 

[lannerch]

And pigs are highly intelligent you can train them like dogs so they could give us a lot more if you gave them the chance so how can you be for slaughter of pigs but against the slaughter of horses?

 

[Megibo]

I see what you're saying, I also know that you are quite young.. but I do want to point out that ..the two abbatoirs that take horses in the UK kill them just as humanely as a vet or nackerman would.
The reasons why the horses are sent by their owners to be killed no one will ever know, perhaps they are lame or old, or perhaps they have behavioural issues? Reasons very similar to those who have their horses pts at home, maybe?
If you look at a few threads on here you'll see that a gun is the prefered method of dispatch for many members on here, as it is instant.
Slaughter houses sadly do a much needed job of clearing up the mess that indescriminate breeding has caused in this country. Instead of seeing horses neglected, without food or basic care.. would you not rather see their days ended humanely and safely? The current climate means that many horses owners cannot afford to pay a vet £500 to inject their horse at home, so perhaps an abbatoir really does have a place in todays world?
Just a few things for you to think about, before writing off the slaughter houses we have here.. compared to those abroad they are outstanding.

This wasn't intended as as offensive, or in any way a dig you or your beliefs.. I just think sometimes there is a bigger picture to be seen?

It's not offensive at all, and yes being 17 I've probably not experience enough of topics like these to make full judgement but it's what i believe right now. Of course if a horse had to be slaughtered I would much rather it was done in the UK without the miles and miles the europeans travel them and that they died swiftly and painlessly. And I would always choose a horse to be slaughtered humanely rather than be neglected for months or years because it was against the law for it to be slaughtered.

 

[Megibo]

I'm afraid this is very naive and you are not looking at the full picture. If the slaughter houses were to close then where would all of these horses go? would you not rather they had a swift death than be trucked for miles and be abused on the way? Europeans will not stop eating horsemeat so there will always be demand.

I'm aware that it is, and as said in above reply, I would of course they died quickly as opposed to travelling in those horrendous conditions. And to repeat myself again, I would also rather they were slaughtered humanely rather than be neglected because there was nowhere for them to go.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

You do know that a lot of the fish you get in the shops is farmed, don't you? And that the stocks of most fish found in the supermarket are at dangerously low levels? Farmed fish suffer from disease and are fed on fish meal that is made from other (ocean caught) fish. Not a nice thought. Ocean caught fish is an ecological disaster in most cases - look at the death and destruction caused by trawling. You say you are against mass slaughter yet 1000s of fish are killed to get that salmon or cod you like. We all know the stories of dolphins being killed by trawlers catching tuna. We have fished most stocks to near extinction - THAT is mass slaughter.

I agree re horses though. All animals deserve to be kept and killed humanely for meat, whether it is a sheep, a pig or a horse.

So true. I don't understand why fish get such a raw deal, is it because they aren't cute and fluffy? They are living creatures, you are eating their muscle tissue, so how come 'fish' is often thought of as a seperate thing from 'meat'? The one thing (OK, one of the things) that drives me potty is when people say to me 'I'm a vegetarian for moral reasons, but I eat fish'. If you eat fish, you cannot be a vegetarian.

You can add the plight of Albatross to the awful situation that is going on daily in our oceans.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/supporting/campaigns/albatross/problem/