A study recently completed by researchers working with Animal Law Coaliition, examined trends in horse slaughter in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and other countries. The study relied on data available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and other government and private sources from 1989 - 2008.
The results revealed the number of horses slalughtered was determined by a demand for horse meat primarily in Europe. Horse meat is an expensive delicacy in many European countries as well as Asia.
These findings contradict horse slaughter industry claims that horse slaughter controls the numbers of unwatnted horses. Proponents of horse slaughter have insisted that if horse slaughter is banned, there will be large numbers of abandoned, unwanted horses. In fact, the study concluded, "Slaughter...is useless as a tool for controlling the unwanted horsepopulation and instead simply creates a...market that competes with potential buyers of...horses and encourages a continuous supply."
The complete study is now available on line.