A demographic survey of unwanted horses in Ireland in 2011 and totals for 2012 and a comparison with 2010.
Abstract: This report compiles the available information on unwanted horses in Ireland for 2011 and 2012 and builds upon the previous report for the period 2005 to 2010. Similar trends are present in the high value responsible ownership category and the practicing veterinary profession although extensively involved in horse welfare, euthanises a small proportion of Ireland's unwanted horses. Welfare groups have limited resources and a limited ability to deal with such an extensive problem, which has involved very large numbers of horses. Local authorities continue to have to devote significant efforts and calls on public finances to deal with unwanted horses. Those that they have to deal with are, in the main, not identifiable by either passports or microchips. Category 2 plants and abattoirs continue to provide the principal means of disposal of unwanted horses. The need for abattoirs continues to increase and it is essential that these facilities remain in operation. They processed more than 49,000 horses between 2010 and 2012. The samples they have to submit for Trichinella testing are the most sensitive indicator of the extent of the unwanted horse problem and the most immediate source of information on when it may begin to abate. Trichinella sample numbers and this by inference, horses ponies and donkeys sent to slaughter have fallen by some 35% from 2012 numbers, in the year to date (2013). This may reflect the commercial decision to cease horse slaughter by two slaughterhouses that had hitherto provided this service. Their commercial decision was not in any way related to the identification of fraudulent mislabeled beef in other plants.
Publication Date: 2013-10-25 PubMed ID: 24156381PubMed Central: PMC3843573DOI: 10.1186/2046-0481-66-20Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the problem of unwanted horses in Ireland by analyzing data from 2011 and 2012 and comparing it with data from 2005 to 2010. It explains the role of various entities in dealing with this problem and highlights the role of abattoirs for disposal.
Overview of the Issue and Objectives of the Study
- The study aims to present a thorough account of the situation regarding unwanted horses in Ireland.
- The authors strive to build on the pre-existing data from 2005 to 2010 by including data from 2011 and 2012.
- It aims to provide an understanding of the different players involved in addressing the issue, including welfare groups, veterinary professionals, and local authorities.
The Role of Various Entities in Dealing with Unwanted Horses
- The study details the limited capacity of welfare groups in dealing with the problem, owing to curtailed resources and the monumental scale of the issue.
- It acknowledges the efforts of local authorities, despite significant pressure on public funds, in managing and caring for unwanted horses.
- It also touches upon the role of veterinary professionals, who despite their active participation in horse welfare, euthanise only a small percentage of Ireland’s unwanted horses.
The Significance of Abattoirs
- The research underscores the importance of abattoirs, and Category 2 plants, as primary facilities for the disposal of unwanted horses.
- The study notes that abattoirs processed over 49,000 horses between 2010 and 2012, emphasizing their critical role in addressing the issue.
- The research also indicates that the numbers for Trichinella testing submitted by these abattoirs serve as a sensitive metric for understanding the severity of the problem and predicting when it may decrease.
Changes in 2013: Potential Indicators
- The report also touches upon developments in 2013 where the number of horses sent for slaughter, and consequently Trichinella sample numbers, fell by 35% due to commercial decisions taken by two major slaughterhouses.
- This decline, the study notes, was not related to the identification of mislabeled beef in other plants.
Cite This Article
APA
Leadon DP, Jeffery R, O'Toole D, Duggan V.
(2013).
A demographic survey of unwanted horses in Ireland in 2011 and totals for 2012 and a comparison with 2010.
Ir Vet J, 66(1), 20.
https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-0481-66-20 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Ireland. dleadon@equine-centre.ie.
References
This article includes 3 references
- Leadon DP, O’Toole D, Duggan V. A demographic study of the unwanted horse population of Ireland 2005 to 2010. Irish Vet J 2012;65(3):p1–11.
- Stull C. The journey to slaughter for North American horses. Anim Front 2012;2(3):68–71.
- Leadon DP. European perspective on horses for slaughter. J Am Can Eur Federations Ass Anim Sci 2012;2(3):72–75.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Finney S, Collins JA, Duggan V. An investigation of the equine infectious disease threat represented by the presence of donkeys at mixed equestrian events in Ireland.. Ir Vet J 2015;68(1):11.
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