After years of research, on-site investigations, and international pressure, one of the most cruel places we have ever documented has finally disappeared: the Bouvry Exports horse slaughterhouse in Alberta, Canada, has ceased operations. For us, the closure of this facility marks a historic milestone in the fight against horse meat imports from cruel production practices. 

Since 2007, the animal welfare organization Animals’ Angels USA has been documenting conditions in the North American horse meat industry. Together with them and our Swiss partner organization, Tierschutzbund Zürich, we began extensive investigations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, and Uruguay starting in 2012.

At the center of many of these investigations was Bouvry Exports—at one time Canada’s largest horse slaughterhouse. There, horses were fattened for six months in so-called feedlots before being slaughtered. Time and again, we gathered evidence of severe animal cruelty at the feedlots and informed the public and the media about it. Here are a few examples of the conditions we found there:

• Thousands of horses were kept in huge outdoor pens—without protection from extreme weather conditions.
• During the Canadian winter, temperatures dropped to as low as minus 33 degrees Celsius. Foals froze to death at birth.
• The horses were poorly cared for and not fed in a manner appropriate to their species.
• Injuries, illnesses, and hoof problems were not addressed.
• The animals were kept in muddy, overcrowded pens with no place to retreat.

We also documented serious violations of animal welfare regulations in the outdoor areas of the slaughterhouse itself. In addition, public documents from Canadian authorities repeatedly confirmed abuses during the unloading, housing, and slaughter of the horses.

International Pressure on Authorities and Importers

Together with our partner organizations, we brought these conditions to light, released videos and reports, informed importers and authorities in Switzerland and the European Union, and called for import bans on horse meat from overseas.

You can find our latest video on the on-site investigation here.  

The investigations have led to numerous consequences in recent years. Since March 2024, neither the EU nor Switzerland has imported horse meat from Canada. The Prime Feedlot operated by Bouvry Exports had already been empty since January 2024. The permanent closure of the slaughterhouse marks a milestone in our years of work.

Attempts at intimidation by the industry

For years, the horse meat industry responded to our investigations with massive pressure. Importers and industry associations repeatedly sued us. Legal disputes arose on multiple occasions in Switzerland and Belgium. Through these efforts, industry representatives attempted to have our publications and films removed.

Nevertheless, we continued our investigation. Several courts ultimately upheld the legality of the public advocacy work carried out by animal welfare organizations like ours and rejected the industry’s claims.

Our work continues

The closure of Bouvry Exports is a significant victory for animal welfare. But the suffering of horses is not yet over. 

While horse slaughterhouses in North America are increasingly disappearing, we continue to document conditions at horse collection centers and slaughterhouses in South America. Our investigations in Argentina and Uruguay show that serious animal welfare issues, inadequate traceability, and criminal structures still exist there.

A major new investigation into horse meat production in South America will be published in the second half of the year. Every investigation, every publication, every political intervention, and every shared report helps to put pressure on the industry and the authorities.