Rider

In my posting for "Horse Breeds Starting with A", I read some breeds that will be taken to butchery when its dead and then it will made into horse meat. Is this practice is still done today? I can't imagine people eating horse meat.

cherokeemyluv

Horse meat is still used today, primarily in the European/Asian markets. Back in the 19th century horses were used for glue (hooves) and pet food (meat) as well as eaten. Slaughter laws have made their use for pet food decrease and newer adhesives made chemically as opposed from the fibers in hooves have pretty much gotten rid of their use for anything but food. Last I heard the primary slaughter houses were in Canada and Mexico, as the US ones ave been closed.

crazyqueen

Are people just not getting updates? I was just recently told that horse glue is still in use now, this had to be within the past few years. Is this practiced still in the states?

tikitowel

Elmer's definitely doesn't use horse hooves anymore, and I remember being told when I was about 10 that they didn't do that anymore. I can't see it being economically viable to still use horses instead of chemicals. not to mention the publicity nightmare.

pumpkinflirt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoof_glue

Used for cabinetry and other special projects, but definitely not Elmers. A search on horse meat or horse slaughter will support that many countries still eat horse meat and that the last slaughterhouse in the US was closed Sept 21, 2007 in Illinois.

WagonsHo

I have read stories that most horses are slaughtered within 24 hours of being sold. On my wormer it reads "not to be used on animals for human consumption". It is possible that people are eating horse meat with toxic chemicals. I have always thought that was weird.

The Horseman

I would never eat a horse, I just could not do it.

The whole thing just seems terribly wrong to me, but that's just my opinion.

As for the glue thing, it was my understanding they were still using horses for glue.

Maybe i'm wrong, I don't know.

Rider

I just want to have some clarifications, how do they get make glue from horse's hooves? In that process, will the horse be killed first or it can still live after the process is done?

stuffabunny

Its done after the animal is killed. The same thing that helps keep hooves tough is separated and used in making glue. You could use just the trimmings from a farrier, but it would take so long to get enough it wouldn't be worthwhile in the end. While there are still slaughter houses there are always enough hooves for any byproduct be it glue or dog chews.
Most horses are slaughtered as soon as possible. However because not everyone who brings their horse to auction intends them to go to slaughter knowing a wormer is not safe to consume could be helpful.

WagonsHo

The other side of horse slaughter is the general problem with unwanted pets. Many dogs and cats are put down and there bodies are rendered. Does the horse slaughter business provide and economical way of handling a huge problem of unwanted horses? Would it be better to have horses put down and the body rendered, or buried? Horse meat is also the major stable for lions and tigers in zoos, what will the zoos do without the horse meat?

Rider

Thanks for the explanations Stuffabunny.

And Wagonsho, I see your point about feeding carnivorous animals in captivity. Now that gives me another inquiry to ask. Is horse meat cheaper than cow meat or chicken meat? I mean we could still use those meats in feeding these carnivorous animals right?