Buddha banned meats of horses, snakes, dogs etc. completely and this extract shows Buddhist approach to issue
"The Sutta-nipdta says: "as a mother will risk her life to
protect her only child, so one should develop in one's mind a
boundless love for all living beings, for the whole world,
above, beneath and on all sides, with infinite loving-kindness"
(Sn 143-152). Here Buddhism preaches respect not
only for human beings, but for all living creatures. With this
principle in mind, how can one eat meat? Why did the Vinaya
rules not make vegetarianism compulsory?
It is true that Buddhist monasticism laid stress onuniversal
love. Monks were not allowed to kill animals (Pacittiya rule 61,
Vin IV124, nuns' Pacittiya 142), or to use water in which small
creatures were living (Pacittiya rule 62, nuns' Pacittiya 143).
They had to expel any novice who killed animals (Vin 185). In
several sermons, the Buddha spoke against fishermen and
fishmongers (A III 300; S IV 308; UD 51-56), and against
butchers (A V 288; M I 39, 387, II 203; S II 254-256)."
220). One who mistreats animals is not an Ariya, a "noble" (Dhp 270), whereas
one who has compassion for all living beings deserves to be
called an Ariya.
Why then was there no total ban on eating
meat for Buddhist renouncers?
The reason was the principle that monks and nuns had to
obtain their food through begging or being invited to eat in
lay households. They were not to ask anything of their donors,
or to express their preferences. Thus they had to accept
what was given to them, and could not influence what kinds
of food they received.