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Better Farming Ontario Featured Articles

Better Farming Ontario magazine is published 11 times per year. After each edition is published, we share featured articles online.


Australians get to ride a horse and eat it, too

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Western Australia has approved human consumption of horse meat. Between 50,000 and 70,000 horses have been slaughtered there annually, but the meat was not available in Australian stores. It was exported. According to Food And Drink Digital, the top eight consuming countries eat 4.8 million horses a year.

The trend is reversed in North America. Between 1993 and 2007, when a ban was forced by the Humane Society of the United States, about 75,000 to 150,000 horses were sent to slaughter nationally each year. Now, breeders and the racing industry complain they are up to their ears in live animals. Veterinarian Alison LaCarrubba, who heads the equine ambulatory section of the University of Missouri, blames a "double whammy" of the slaughter ban and "economic turmoil" on the growing number of unwanted horses. "Equine veterinarians are seeing more thin, poorly cared for and unwanted horses than ever before," she says in a news release.

The university is looking at new ways of controlling the horse population, including a low-cost or no-cost castration program, and is asking for donations to offset the costs of holding sterilization clinics, which run to between US$500 and $1,000 each.

LaCarrubba says it costs about $60 a month to provide hay and grain for a horse but other costs, such as vet care, dental and hoof care and housing, add up quickly to about $15,000 a year. Meanwhile, the horse supply is so high that an "entry level" horse can be purchased for $50. BF
 

Current Issue

May 2025

Better Farming Magazine

Farms.com Breaking News

New board members for Ontario Pork

Friday, April 25, 2025

Ontario Pork, an association representing the 1,898 pork farms that market 5.9 million hogs in the province, has announced its new board lineup for 2025. As a Guelph, Ontario-headquartered organization, Ontario Pork is engaged in the areas of research, government representation,... Read this article online

Sheep farmers win Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Sheep farmers and wool producers from Wallenstein, Ont. are Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2025. “It’s great to be recognized by your peers in the industry with an award like that,” Ryan Schill told Farms.com. “When we started the sheep farm, there were people questioning us... Read this article online

Ontario ag connections in the NHL playoffs

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

The 2025 NHL playoffs are underway, and some of hockey’s biggest names got their start on an Ontario farm or have invested in agriculture since becoming professional athletes. Farms.com went through each of the 16 playoff team rosters to uncover which players have a connection to... Read this article online

New Alcohol Trade Freedom in Ontario

Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) has welcomed Ontario’s bold step in eliminating trade barriers and allowing direct alcohol sales to consumers. This new legislation aims to ease internal trade across provinces and support small businesses. One of the key changes... Read this article online

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