How is horsemeat used?
Most horsemeat produced by slaughterhouses is exported to European and Asian countries for human consumption. Due to consumer concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, or ‘mad cow disease’), the consumption of horsemeat in Europe is increasing. However, an often overlooked demand for horsemeat comes from zoos. Large carnivores, such as lions and tigers, require a lot of high-quality protein in their diets. Although their nutritional requirements can be met with other types of meat, horsemeat has more protein, less fat, less cholesterol, less sodium, and more iron than the same amount of high-quality beef. A number of zoos have stopped feeding horsemeat to their large carnivores due to consumer pressure, but there are still zoos in the United States that purchase horsemeat to provide nutrition for their animals.
