Argument time! Horse or cow ?

[Mark & Kim in France]

Here in France we eat a lot of horse meat, It tastes lovely, It's lean and dont leave you feeling bloated, But it's a big no no in the UK. Instead the UK promote's producing more and more beef! What animal on the planet produces the most methane harmful to the ozone? DOH! that would be the cow! Us english love a beef ruby murry but in parts of India the cow is sacred and not eaten but the goat is but Brit's wont eat that either, It's lovely slow cooked! If man really wants to survive then eat using your taste bud's and not your imagination! Snail's actually taste lovely and anyone would eat them if blind folded and not told what they were

[Chantal]

I have to admit I would struggle to eat horse meat but I have no problem with goat. Nothing to do with taste, all to do with aahhh factor.

I ate a load of goat kebabs at an Indonesian restaurant in Holland a few years back and they were lovely. Having said that, my boss who was with me was adamant that the waiter had said it was stoat not goat. Stoat on a stick to be precise. If he's right then stoats taste great too

[Cider Boys]

It does seem a shame that we do not eat horse meat but it is completely in keeping with most of our hypocracy when it comes to animals.

The vast majority of the hill ponies from the West Country go for export to France for horse flesh. It would make far more sense if we ate them here.

However a large proprtion of British people suffer from the effects of a Walt Disney mentality when it comes to animals.

Barney

[PLUMPUDDING]

Won't all ruminants produce methane due to their digestive process? That would include deer, sheep, goats, etc. I'm not arguing, just pondering on the gas producing effects of animals from the point you make. Don't horses fart/burp too?

I should imagine the meat from most animals is quite palatable if you just think about it as meat. I have eaten horse, which was quite lean and much the same as beef in a caserole. I tried llama in Bolivia, but it must have been a very old one and was extremely tough.

If we had to catch and kill our own food I think nearly everyone would be vegetarians. We try not to think about our food as living creatures with fur and pretty faces. On the other hand I did catch myself wondering what squirrel would taste like when they had eaten every hazel nut on my two trees while we were on holiday.

If it comes to saving the planet we would be able to feed far more people on a vegetarian diet instead of feeding vast quantities to animals for a small amount of meat.

Personally I think there are far too many people anyway, although it isn't anything to do with eating horse or cow. Hey there's a thought - canibalism!!!

[Tigger]

We used to keep goats and we ate the boys. Very nice.

I've tried horse meat in France on several occasions, but I'm not keen on the texture or the flavour. Horse may be lean, but it's the fat in beef that gives it the flavour.

[richard p]

ive not knowingly tried horse (never been to france) but i did have both gaitor and clams in florida earlier in the month, once had some goat stewed in garlic in spain....missus wouldnt let me have it again after the first time!!!.

[Mark & Kim in France]

A friend of mine has several fishing lake's, Many brits including myself love fishing! We catch the fish and throw them back! NOT THE FRENCH! We see back in the UK Carp landed and displayed in magazines, Large I must admit and fit for a UK magazine, But the carp comes from France and boy do they get big! Guess what! The French eat Carp and my friends fisheries are up for sale because it is not good buisiness in France to ask your clients to release their prey! The Chasse are the over seeing body and dont allow pleasure fishing or hunting! Fish and game are to live on and not allowed for sport!.

[Granny]

Do cows produce more methane because of the way they digest the grass? I thought they were different because they had three stomachs - am I wrong?
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Granny

[Sue]

I think you are right Granny. Cows and other animals that chew the cud have multiple stomachs and keep the grass fermenting away inside them for much longer.

I've never eaten horse, but I have bought and cooked goat in a west indian style curry. Very nice it was too.

My husband is a bit of a wild food buff, so we have tried plenty so far. Pheasant I found a bit greasy and I was not keen on hare either. Rabbit and wood pigeon are my faves. He has tried rook, but I drew the line at that. He reckons rook breasts are as nice as wood pigeon ones......hhhmmmmmmmmmmm

Did anyone see the programme the other night about the guys who live on Bodmin Moor. Mr Road Kill was taking things a bit far I thought

Sue