Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Supply and demand of horsemeat

I was just trying to keep numbers easy for me to figure out, Heidi. My point wasn't the dollar amount, just the fact that foals, do indeed, go to slaughter. No matter what dollar amount you want to put on it. And where young horse flesh is favored, as in demand, the price will be higher.

 

There is no sense in worrying about it. That won't change a thing. It is legal.  If we really couldn't stand supplying the demand, we would do something about it.

 

Lisa Salas, The Odd FArm

----- Original Message -----

From: Heidi Smith

To: oddfarm ; ridecamp ; seamstob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 1:51 PM

Subject: Re: [RC] Supply and demand of horsemeat

>If you are selling a baby that weighs 450 pounds for $300  and the price of meat is $1 per pound, I could buy several, take them to the auction and make a quick profit. You don't think that happens? I am not saying it is right, I am just saying that it happens. And not just to PMU babies, but to other breeds and at other farms as well. 

 

Not at that price, it doesn't.  The smaller and younger the horse, the less the percentage of the carcass that is meat.  Hence, the less the horse is worth by the pound on the hoof.  Even when "prime" horses (good flesh, and weighing between 1000 and 1200 lbs) are going for top dollar, they rarely go for more than 80 to 90 cents per lb.  Most times they go for 40 to 60 cents per lb.  When they are at top price, you MIGHT get 25 to 30 cents per lb for a 450 lb weanling.  So if the babies are selling for $300 you can pretty well be assured they are not going for slaughter.  You're right that if a meat buyer can make a profit turning these babies, he will--if a meat buyer can pick one up like that for $75 to $100 or so, then it IS apt to go to slaughter.

 

Just trying to get the picture a little more accurate here as to when to worry that foals might be slaughter-bound.

 

Heidi