10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat- According to FAO Statistics (FAOSTAT), there are 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat in 2021. These countries have huge production of horse meat and still consumed this meat.
By the way, In the classic era, horses have played very important roles in human history and culture. Functionally, horses are probably one of the most important animals in helping human lives. Before the presence of vehicles, railroad, aeroplane, horse has main role to help people in moving from one place to another. With his speed, power, and energy, many people in the pre-modern era believes in this animal.
After the modern era with the rising of machine industries, people haven’t become the horse as transportation media. They used the machine as the substitutions. But small part of the country still used the horse as transportation tools. Besides, Horses can be consumed because of its nutritious contains. Nutritionally, in Horse meat, Average composition of horse meat (per 100 g of consumable meat) contains 75 gram of water, 23 gram of Protein, 2 gram of Lipid, 1 gram of Carbohydrate, and 462-504 kj of Energy (Rossier, 2003). Many people in some regions still believe in consuming the horse meat.
World’s Production of Horse Meat From 1980 to 2021
| Years | World’s Production of Horse Meat |
|---|---|
| (Tons | |
| 1980 | 515,684 |
| 1981 | 500,365 |
| 1982 | 457,825 |
| 1983 | 454,090 |
| 1984 | 474,344 |
| 1985 | 484,104 |
| 1986 | 473,535 |
| 1987 | 495,835 |
| 1988 | 495,755 |
| 1989 | 502,037 |
| 1990 | 520,708 |
| 1991 | 521,935 |
| 1992 | 665,100 |
| 1993 | 626,178 |
| 1994 | 659,566 |
| 1995 | 671,596 |
| 1996 | 726,964 |
| 1997 | 732,068 |
| 1998 | 721,716 |
| 1999 | 738,456 |
| 2000 | 745,507 |
| 2001 | 781,766 |
| 2002 | 750,759 |
| 2003 | 750,810 |
| 2004 | 742,666 |
| 2005 | 737,979 |
| 2006 | 730,109 |
| 2007 | 703,429 |
| 2008 | 708,666 |
| 2009 | 710,411 |
| 2010 | 703,101 |
| 2011 | 720,187 |
| 2012 | 731,854 |
| 2013 | 704,904 |
| 2014 | 712,199 |
| 2015 | 743,964 |
| 2016 | 733,888 |
| 2017 | 701,346 |
| 2018 | 691,139 |
| 2019 | 718,142 |
| 2020 | 775,691 |
| 2021 | 730,888 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
Statistically, based on the FAO Statistics Database (FAOSTAT), the world’s production of horse meat is relatively increased from time to time. in 1980, the production horse meat just 515,684 tons. Meanwhile, in 2021, its production has become 730,888 tons. Cumulatively, it has increased by 215 thousand tons. Basically, the increasing consumption of horse meat makes the output of horse meat has boosted.
Production of Horse Meat Based on Continent in 2021
| Continent | Production of Horse Meat in 2021 |
|---|---|
| (Tons) | |
| Africa | 17,889 |
| Americas | 202,760 |
| Asia | 397,375 |
| Europe | 94,584 |
| Oceania | 18,279 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | |
Based on the continent regions, the horse meat production still concentrated in some regions. Some of the regions are Asia with production of horse meat reached 397 thousand tons and Americas with production of horse meat reached 202 thousand tons. Meanwhile, Europe, Oceania, and Africa have minor production with output around 94 thousand tons, 18 thousand tons, and 17 thousand tons, respectively.
Based on the country regions, there are 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat. All of this data was obtained from FAO Statistics in 2023. Here is the rank of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat.
The Rank of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat
| Ranks | Country | Production of Horse Meat in 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| (Tons) | ||
| 1 | Kazakhstan | 151,199 |
| 2 | China, mainland | 135,363 |
| 3 | Mexico | 71,124 |
| 4 | Mongolia | 67,394 |
| 5 | Russian Federation | 47,097 |
| 6 | Kyrgyzstan | 27,692 |
| 7 | Argentina | 24,159 |
| 8 | Brazil | 23,631 |
| 9 | Canada | 22,581 |
| 10 | United States of America | 19,580 |
| Source : FAOSTAT, 2023 | ||
Brief Description of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat
1. Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan still becomes the biggest producers of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Horse meat from Kazakhstan reached 151,199 tons. in Kazakhstan, there is a popular horse, namely The Kazakh Horse. this horse usually is used as riding and horsemeat. Geographically, most of population of this horse can be found mostly in western Kazakhstan. in this country, some popular of horse meat dishes, namely Beshbarmak, Kazy (type of horse sausage), and Kuurdak
2. China, mainland
China is the 2nd World’s biggest producers of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAO Statistical Corporate Database (FAOSTAT), the production of Horse Meat from China reached 135,363 tons. Geograhically, in China, there are some provinces that has huge population of horse. These provinces include Sichuan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia (Wang and Zhou, 2020). In China, there are some culinary based on horse meat. These include horse meat rice noodles (mǎròu mǐfěn) and horse meat hot pot (mǎròu huǒguō).
3. Mexico
Mexico is the 3rd World’s biggest producers of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAO Statistical (FAOSTAT), the production of horse meat from Mexico reached 71,124 tons. Commonly, there are four horse slaughter plants in Mexico. These are located in Zacatecas region in Jerez, Fresnillothe, Aguascalientes (Aguascalientes region) and Camargo (Chihuahua region).
4. Mongolia
Mongolia is the 4th World’s biggest producers of Horse Meat in 2021. Commonly, the production of horse meat from Mongolia reached 67,394 tons in 2021. horse culture is one of the main role activities in Mongolia and Mongolian people revered and celebrated the horse in Mongolian culture. Besides, they also eat horsemeat but occasionally.
5. Russian Federation
Russia is another country that has huge production of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAO Statistics (FAOSTAT), the production of Horse Meat from Russia reached 47,097 tons. Geographically, in Russia, the horse meat industry in Russia are located in some regions, including Republic of Saka, Bashkortostan, Altai.
6. Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan is the 6th World’s Biggest producer of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the production of horse meat from Kyrgyzstan reached 27,692 tons. According to National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic, the main population of horse in Kyrgyzstan are located in Yssyk-Kul oblast, Naryn oblast, and Osh oblast. The population of horse in Yssyk-Kul oblast, Naryn oblast, and Osh oblast are 109,203 heads, 131,644 heads, and 100,630 heads, respectively in 2020. In this country, Beschbarmark is one of the popular dishes that used ingredients from horse meat.
7. Argentina
Argentina is the 7th World’s Biggest Producer of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the production of Horse meat from Argentina reached 24,159 tons. in Argentina, most of horse meat are exported into some countries including France, Belgium, Italy, Germany, Holland, Russia and Japan. one of the main area with huge horse population is located in Pampas. The Argentine Criollo is the kind of horse that popular in this country (Scoroli., 2018)
8. Brazil
Brazil is the 8th World’s Biggest Producer of Horse Meat in 2021. According to FAOSTAT, the production of Horse Meat from Brazil reached 23,631 tons. In Brazil, this country are known with some horse breeds, namely Baixadeiro, Lavradeiro, Marajoara, Puruca, Campeiro, Crioulo, Mangalarga Marchador and Pantaneiro (Nougueira et al., 2022).
9. Canada
Canada is the 9th World’s Biggest Producer of Horse Meat in 2021. Statistically, the production of Horse meat from Canada reached 22,581 tons. Geograhically, the main area of horse meat production in Canada is located in Alberta. Commonly, some of the production of horse meat from Canada are exported to Japan, France and the U.S.
10. United States of America
United States of America is the 10th World’s biggest producers of Horse Meat in 2021. Basically, the production of Horse meat from the “Stars and Strips” country reached 19,580 tons. Basically, in USA, the consumption of horse meat is limited in some states but most of states in USA accepted to consume the horse meat except Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Bibliography of 10 World’s Biggest Producers of Horse Meat
FAOSTAT. 2023. Production quantities of Horse meat, fresh or chilled by country. Accessed via https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize on May 3rd, 2023.
Rossier, E. 2003. Horse Meat. ncyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-227055-X/00607-6
Wang, Q., & Zou, Y. (2020). China’s Equine Industries in a Transitional Economy: Development, Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities. Sustainability, 12(12), 5135. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125135
Human Society International (HSI). Horsemeat production in Mexico. accessed via chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.hsi.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/pdfs/Horses_meatproduction_Mexico.pdf on May 3rd, 2023.
National Statistical Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic. The number horses. Accessed via http://www.stat.kg/en/opendata/category/100/ on May 3rd, 2023.
Scorolli, A.L., 2018. Feral horse management in Parque Provincial Ernesto Tornquist, Argentina. Human–Wildlife Interactions, 12(1), p.11.
Nogueira, M.B., de Faria, D.A., Ianella, P., Paiva, S.R. and McManus, C., 2022. Genetic diversity and population structure of locally adapted Brazilian horse breeds assessed using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms. Livestock Science, 264, p.105071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2022.105071.
World Population Review. 2023. Horse Meat Legal States 2023 Accessed via https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/horse-meat-legal-states on May 3rd, 2022.
Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada. Animal Welfare and Horse Processing Fact Sheet. Accessed via https://www.horsewelfare.ca/post/horse-processing-fact-sheet on May 3rd, 2023.