Each year, Animals’ Angels investigates the state of the horse slaughter industry to provide our supporters with the most accurate and up-to-date information available.

Over the past decade, our findings have consistently pointed to a clear and encouraging trend: fewer U.S. horses are being funneled into the slaughter pipeline than ever before.

But this year’s data reveals a shift.

For the First Time in Over a Decade, Slaughter Numbers Have Increased

For the first time in over ten years, the number of U.S. horses shipped to slaughter has increased significantly.

In 2025, close to 5,000 more horses than in 2024 were exported to Canada and Mexico for that purpose.

This report takes a detailed look at the current developments in the horse slaughter industry and potential reasons for this increase.

While this shift is concerning, it is important to view it in the context of the long-term trend, which has shown a dramatic decline over the past decade. Animals’ Angels continues to monitor these developments closely.

Mexico 

Horse Meat Exports from Mexico Continue to Decline

US kill buyers made over 18 million dollars in 2025 shipping horses to Mexico for slaughter, which is approximately 5.5 million more than in 2024.

Notably, horse meat exports from Mexico have not increased significantly, and at this point Japan is the only buyer.

Key observations:

• Horse meat exports from Mexico remained nearly unchanged
• Japan remained the only significant international buyer
• Total export value stayed just above $1.1 million

This raises an important question: Where is the meat going?

Horse meat traditionally is not consumed on a large scale in Mexico, and the available data does not provide a clear answer.

Limited Transparency in the Domestic Market

A 2017 study carried out in Mexico found that 10% of tested beef products contained horse meat, suggesting that incidents of substitution or mislabeling the meat were not insignificant. 

In 2025, Mexico’s meat consumption reached a record high, widening the gap between domestic production and demand. Rising demand and policy shifts coincide with mounting cost pressures, particularly in beef.

• Beef prices increased 16.5% year-over-year in January 2026
• The presence of screwworm and reduced availability of slaughter cattle add to the pressure

Could increased demand and rising costs be influencing how meat is sourced or labeled?

At this stage, more research is needed. However, the lack of transparency surrounding the destination and use of horse meat remains a grave concern.

Key Industry Players

US Exporter of Slaughter Horses to Mexico (approximate numbers) 

*Shipper’s name has been removed or is not legible

** Ramos Livestock is not an actual shipper; the name is used by several other kill buyers that do not want their information on official paperwork. 

(Examples: Dennis Chavez, Jason Fabrizius, Donnie Flatt, Trent Ward, Jason Sexton, Jacob Thompson, George Baker Farms, Jeff Smith, Mike McBarron)

Out of all the shippers, the Coyuma Cattle Company had the most interesting development.

The company, which was incorporated in El Paso, TX in 2022, started shipping horses to slaughter in 2024. Since then, their exports have increased from 1 to 45 shipments per year, generating over 1 million dollars in revenue.

Oddly, the company’s online presence only mentions the sale of cattle, not horses. The company ships to the Procesadora De Carnes Hermanos Prieto plant in Juarez.

Canada

Smaller Increase, Continued Decline in Exports

705 more horses than in 2024 were exported from the U.S. to Canada for slaughter, which is, compared to Mexico, a much smaller increase.

The live export of horses to Japan is declining and so is horse meat export.

It is important to note that horse meat exports from Canada to Europe for human consumption have completely stopped. 

In 2025, only a single shipment was exported to Germany — and for animal consumption — underscoring how limited these remaining markets have become.

Japan remains the largest importer of the meat. The value in 2025 was 8,592,001 CAD.

Additionally, 2,350,280 CAD worth of horse meat went to the sole U.S. importer, Central Nebraska Packing Inc., a company that provides the horse meat to zoos across the U.S. 

US Exporters of Slaughter Horses to Canada

However, contrary to rumors being spread by certain kill buyer broker programs:

• There is no new “zoo meat” plant in Canada, and
• The number of horses slaughtered for this purpose has not increased

The horses for Central Nebraska Packing are slaughtered at the Viande Richelieu plant in Quebec, and the amount sold to the company has decreased from 2.98 million in 2023 to 2.35 million in 2025.

Overall Conclusions: 

While the increase in U.S. horses slaughtered is disheartening, it should not be a reason to assume that horse slaughter and the overall demand for horse meat globally is on the rise again.

What the data shows:

• Slaughter numbers increased in 2025
• Export markets did not expand
• Global demand for horse meat remains limited

Recent policy developments further reinforce this trend. Italy — traditionally one of the main consumers of horse meat — has introduced a bill that would make it illegal to slaughter horses and consume their meat.

The data indicates that the main increase is driven by changes within the local Mexican market, rather than a broader resurgence of the industry.

At the same time, the discrepancy between slaughter numbers and export data highlights a lack of transparency that warrants further investigation.

Animals’ Angels will continue to closely monitor the situation and, as always, provide the most updated information available.