Canada | Alberta | Bouvry Feedlot | Horsemeat Import

At 8:15 we arrive at Bouvry’s small feedlot on Range Road 264, where it is evident that the holding conditions have not improved since our last visit two years ago. The grounds are covered in manure and muddy. There is still no shelter from the elements and only a limited quantity of straw is visible inside the pen area, by far not enough to accommodate all the animals. Again, many horses have overgrown hooves. Several have club feet, three animals are lame. Once more, the feed troughs are filled with grain feed. As they do not have a cover, they are inadequate for outdoor use. The horses are extremely overfed and look obese. Many are crowding around the water and feed troughs, where some biting and fighting can be observed.

We observe the loading of five livestock trucks that transport the horses to Bouvry’s slaughterhouse. A worker uses a stick with a pointed end and is repeatedly poking the horses in their flanks and hindquarters. We note that the loading ramp is too high for the trailers. The horses have to lower their heads to enter the trailers and several are observed hitting their heads against the door frame.