Agriculture committee  I have not personally seen any evidence that the welfare is being upheld in Japan. I have seen instances of other cases of extreme violations in the use of horses in Japan that have raised significant red flags. These are not necessarily concerning horses that have been exported for meat; they are severe welfare violations that have been brought forward about racehorses within Japan.

Agriculture committee  Thank you for your question. I think a large majority of veterinarians, and not just in Manitoba, feel that their expertise in the science behind welfare is not subjective. You study the welfare of an animal regardless of the species, with the same method and using the same science.

Agriculture committee  Thank you. I speak today as a veterinary technologist and as an animal welfare specialist for the Winnipeg Humane Society. This committee has heard much testimony on research published globally in veterinary literature about horses experiencing negative states of welfare. Testimony has been presented by expert professionals on the different shipping methods when moving valuable performance horses.