• CONTACT
    • Reporting welfare concerns
  • HOME
  • Rehomed Equines
    • Guardians needed
    • Accord
    • Annie
    • Creme
    • Mimi
    • Nanette
    • Titos
    • 2009
      • Asal
      • Balto & Jenna
      • Brandy (Gucci)
      • Daisy & Dora
      • Gasparin (Gazza)
      • Goliath
      • Maddy, Elly & Poppy
      • Molly & Merlin
      • Ossie & Princesse
      • William
      • Wilbur & Piona
    • 2010
      • Belle
      • Corran Ard
      • Columbus
      • Lena & Belle
      • Leonide
      • Lily & Marcy
      • Perry
      • Vinnie
    • 2011
      • Manon & Rowan
      • Hugo
  • Ownership
    • Donkey Care
      • Donkey Feeding Guidelines
      • Donkey & Mule References
    • Mules
    • Regulations
      • Export Health Certificates
      • Passports
        • France
        • Spain
        • UK
    • Microchips
    • Hoofcare
    • Teeth
  • Campaigns
    • ‘French Rescues’
    • Horsemeat in France
    • Transport to Slaughter
    • Market Welfare
    • Suggested Changes to the Tripartite Agreement
  • OUR BLOG

Home » Campaigns » Because worse than death, there is suffering…

Because worse than death, there is suffering…

Posted by on May 23, 2008 in Campaigns, Rescues, Welfare | 2 comments

In an effort to understand the French equine market in more detail, we have been researching the origins of horsemeat available in supermarkets within the different departments of France. Our findings so far indicate that France is a mass producer of horses for meat, but a fair proportion of those are not slaughtered here in France, but transported to Italy.

The largest import of live horses into France comes from Poland….the largest export of live horses from France goes to Italy. Horses in the UK are still being exported to the rest of Europe live via the Ireland-France route, some taking the onward 4 day trip to Italy (or 2 day if EU transport regs are ignored).

Interestingly, the horsemeat on French supermarkets shelves is predominantly from Argentina and North America (as well as Uruguay, Brazil, U.S, Canada and Scotland) with the occasional pre-packed horse hamburgers or steaks labelled origin ‘France’. The Haras Nationaux documents the split of imported horsemeat in 2004 as 24% USA, 18% Argentina, 15% Canada, 14% Belgium, 10% Brazil and 6% UK. Clearly, with the closing of the USA slaughter houses, the import market will have evolved which could explain the prevalence of other importing countries such as Uruguay. The CIV (Centre d’Information des Viandes) reports that 85% of horse meat eaten in France is imported. Currently horsemeat is sold in approx. 1000 horse butchers and 1700 supermarkets across France (source FNC bulletin Dec 2006).
 
Horsemeat of French origin is generally available at specialist market stalls and butchers, mainly under the umbrella of Viande-Chevaline – a body set up to promote the industry, offering consumer information such as recipes, nutrition, purchase locations, and so on. The Haras Nationaux document 24,433 equines as being slaughtered in 2004 and V-C report that 15,000 heavy horses a year are raised for meat – the remaining 9,500 therefore come from small breeders, sport / leisure horses reaching the end of their ‘useful’ life, or imports. In the same year the CIV reports that a national survey revealed that there were 459,800 equine heads (32,300 of which were donkeys and mules). 
 
In 2004, 9,491 animals were imported and 15,261 exported from France (primarily to Italy and Spain) – 38% of the overall slaughter rate (24,433). However, given the fundamental welfare issues at the heart of the long-haul transport campaigns, we need to further understand why equines are being shipped both into and out of France. Our initial thoughts are that the majority of horses imported are then exported with additional equines from France. One of the clear drivers is that due to it’s geography and climate, Italy is unable to be self sufficient in horsemeat production – local breeds are smaller and lighter and therefore less effective for meat production. In addition, it has been previously identified (in a paper by Martuzzi, Catalno and Sussi) that Italians prefer the meat coming from sport horses due to its colour, subtler muscular fibres and lower fat content. This could explain the reason that so many animals travel so far across Europe to supply the demand in Italy. 

It goes without saying that if the labelling directives were changed to read product of the EU, the need to slaughter animals in Italy just to receive the ‘Produced in Italy’ stamp would be reduced thereby reducing the need to transport equines over long distances.

As a natural progression, the research has led to looking into the leather trade using the hides of horses, foals and donkeys. Products sold in top London designer stores include shoes made from Cordovan leather, Italian foal leather shoes, handbags, and horse and donkey skin rugs. This research is still in early days but we are being helped by French and Italian speaking volunteers. We are trying to find out the age of the foals that end up as these accessories. That may come as a bit if a shock to many people who have not considered where their lovely soft Italian leather comes from.

We have made a huge effort this year to attend as many horse sales/markets here that we can. We have been horrified at the condition of many of the equines being offered for sale. Many are sick, unhealthy animals, some close to collapse. There are no welfare bodies in attendance monitoring them nor are there market regulations set up for equines’ welfare and furthermore there is often a clear disregard for all EU transport legislations. Horses were being crammed into unsuitable lorries with no partitions or regard for sex/age. We saw at least eight assorted horses and ponies being forced like sardines together into one small transit-style truck the size of a double horse trailer. If prosecuted, these infringements could lead to a fine of €450 – €1500 or a 2 year prison term and €30,000 fine for cruelty however we have yet to see any enforcement body at any of the fairs or markets we have attended.

So whatever your views on horses being slaughtered for consumption, hopefully you agree that the least that should be given to them is a short and painless final journey….this is one of the areas that we are focusing our attentions on in the short term together with other animal welfare groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




2 Comments

  1. Karen Jones
    May 30, 2008

    Well I will never buy Italian leather items again. And its true its the trnasport that needs to be sorted becuase no mater how hard we try you will never stop europeans eating horse meat. So each equines end has to be as quick and as stress free and pain free as possible. The live export for the butcher has to stop.

    reply
  2. Odette Walker
    June 4, 2008

    I was horrified when I moved to France and saw that they sold Horsemeat. I am still horried when I go to different Supermarkets and see it in the refrigerator section. I give anyone I see buying it “the look” of dissaproval.
    We have three donkeys at the moment and it breaks my heart to hear these horrible stories as they are delightful, intelligent loving creatures. I wish we could help. We have the land but money and transport are the main problems. I know how much it costs to transport these animals.
    I know the three that we have are very lucky and do really hope you find homes soon for the three females.

    The butchery will never stop but I do believe that more stricter guidleines for the transportation and welfare of these animals should be brought in. From what I have seen in France, they do not really care about animals – to them it is just a meal !

    reply

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

Recent blog posts

  • The Ones Left Behind.
  • Safe
  • Quarantine
  • Saving Mississippi
  • The Wrong Horse (TWH)
  • Saving Mississippi – The Road Out
  • Mississippi’s Story

Previous posts

  • May 2017 (7)
  • September 2016 (1)
  • May 2016 (1)
  • February 2016 (4)
  • January 2016 (2)
  • December 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (3)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (4)
  • April 2015 (7)
  • March 2015 (5)
  • February 2015 (5)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (1)
  • June 2014 (1)
  • May 2014 (2)
  • April 2014 (2)
  • January 2014 (1)
  • November 2013 (1)
  • September 2013 (1)
  • January 2013 (1)
  • October 2012 (2)
  • June 2012 (3)
  • April 2012 (1)
  • January 2012 (1)
  • December 2011 (1)
  • October 2011 (1)
  • September 2011 (4)
  • August 2011 (2)
  • July 2011 (4)
  • June 2011 (7)
  • May 2011 (2)
  • April 2011 (3)
  • March 2011 (4)
  • January 2011 (5)
  • December 2010 (2)
  • November 2010 (3)
  • October 2010 (3)
  • September 2010 (4)
  • August 2010 (1)
  • July 2010 (1)
  • June 2010 (6)
  • May 2010 (4)
  • April 2010 (6)
  • March 2010 (6)
  • February 2010 (7)
  • January 2010 (10)
  • December 2009 (7)
  • November 2009 (8)
  • October 2009 (9)
  • September 2009 (13)
  • August 2009 (11)
  • July 2009 (7)
  • June 2009 (9)
  • May 2009 (7)
  • April 2009 (9)
  • March 2009 (7)
  • February 2009 (7)
  • January 2009 (11)
  • December 2008 (6)
  • November 2008 (11)
  • October 2008 (9)
  • September 2008 (10)
  • August 2008 (7)
  • July 2008 (8)
  • June 2008 (14)
  • May 2008 (9)
  • April 2008 (8)
  • March 2008 (7)
  • February 2008 (9)
  • January 2008 (2)

CONTACT

erfwelfare@gmail.com

Recent Comments

  • Rainbow Ribbon Ride | Pilgrim on Horseback on Endurance damaging Equestrianism in the Olympics
  • Anonymous on Enduring Attrition
  • Anonymous on Molly and Merlin looking for a real forever home
  • Michelle on Molly and Merlin looking for a real forever home
  • Anonymous on Serious Welfare Breaches filmed in UK Abattoir

Created by SARL AMM | Association Loi 1901