WINNIPEG—Following revelations that most shipments of horses from Winnipeg to Japan for slaughter exceed the 28-hour legal limit for transport without food, water, and rest, a Manitoba horse exporter appears to be changing its practices. However, the new workaround may actually increase the horses’ stress and suffering, according to an animal welfare expert.
Early Monday morning, yet another shipment of live horses was loaded at the Winnipeg airport, bound for Japan, where after a terrifying flight, they will be fattened, slaughtered, and sold as a raw luxury delicacy. It’s the second shipment of horses exported from Manitoba since Animal Justice and Japan-based Life Investigation Agency (LIA) uncovered evidence of repeated violations of the legal time limit—the first shipment following the revelations occurred in December.
During both of the recent shipments, the exporter split up the journey. Footage from December shows that the horses were transported from Swan River to a feedlot near Winnipeg, unloaded in the dark, and left at the unfamiliar facility for the night. The next day, they were loaded back onto trucks bound for the airport to be confined in tiny wooden crates for the long-haul flight. This overnight stop appears designed to “reset the clock” on the 28-hour limit. However, animal welfare expert Dr. Moira Harris of Harris Research Associates warns that the increased travel time without adequate rest may compound the stress of the already grueling journey .
“For horses shipped from Manitoba to Japan, ‘resting’ them overnight closer to the airport before loading them for the long flight to Japan may help comply with the letter of the law. However, it would do little to improve the horses’ welfare in practice,“ said Dr. Harris. “It will take them some time to recover from stressful road transport, so while they would technically be able to eat, drink and rest in the temporary feedlot, in reality, they are unlikely to take advantage of this.”
“Additionally, the most stressful and disruptive parts of transport—by road or air—are loading and unloading. Introducing an additional stop within the journey could further disrupt the horses’ behaviour, increase their stress and reduce their welfare, compared to an uninterrupted trip. This seems to be an ill-informed change that takes no account of the horses’ physiology or normal behaviour.”
In an investigation released last year, Animal Justice and LIA unearthed Japanese government records showing that between June 2023 and June 2024, at least 22 horses died during or shortly after flights to Japan, while more than 60 others suffered serious injuries or illness. None of these deaths or injuries appear in Canadian Food Inspection Agency records.
“This latest shipment is yet another reminder that the live horse export industry cannot operate in a way that respects animal welfare,” said Kaitlyn Mitchell, director of legal advocacy at Animal Justice. “Instead of addressing the suffering these horses endure, exporters seem more focused on finding loopholes to keep shipments going. The bottom line is that because of the length of the trip and the way they are treated during transport, these horses face a terrifying, exhausting journey that no animal should have to endure. It’s long past time for the federal government to finally end this cruel practice.”
During the last federal election, the governing Liberals promised to ban live horse exports, but more than three years after the Prime Minister included the commitment in his mandate letter to the Minister of Agriculture, the suffering continues. Bill C-355, which would outlaw the practice, was stalled in the Senate through procedural tactics and is now on hold with Parliament prorogued. But Agriculture Minister Lawrence Macualy can still act by passing a regulatory amendment or by passing a ban into law once Parliament resumes.
Nearly 80% of Canadians support ending the export of horses for slaughter.
Contact:
Josh Lynn
Public Relations Manager
[email protected]
Kaitlyn Mitchell
Director of Legal Advocacy
[email protected]
Dr Moira Harris
Harris Research Associates
[email protected]
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