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Horse slaughter plants set to open

The attorney representing newly licensed horse slaughter plants in Iowa and New Mexico says the plants are set to open August 5th. 

But according to report in the Sioux City (IA) Journal, those plans hinge on an August 2nd court date before a federal judge in New Mexico overseeing a lawsuit by animal rights groups.  The Humane Society of the United States and others filed the suit against the USDA, alleging it failed to conduct the proper environmental reviews before issuing permits for Valley Meat of Roswell, New Mexico and Responsible Transportation in Sigourney, Iowa.

The judge will decide whether to issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the plants from opening.  They would be the first horse slaughterhouses to operate domestically since 2007.

  • We are going to load up all the old horses who have outlived their work careers and bring them to the yards of the anti-slaughter people. They have no clue that people cannot afford to feed non-productive horses and will not fee them when feed is so expensive. They need to do some more research on this before they open their mouths. There is valid reasons for supporting the slaughter houses.

    HORSES ARE NOT PETS, THEY ARE PRODUCTIVE, WORKING ANIMALS. THEY DON’T LIVE FOREVER IN YOUR BACKYARD!

  • Horse slaughter is a highly expensive proposition for taxpayers.

    Each plant will cost taxpayers $400,000.00, according to this press release, for inspections. This issue crosses all party lines. Voters and politicians from all sides of the isle are against horse slaughter for a laundry list of reasons.

    Here is the press release:

    http://moran.house.gov/press-release/moran-statement-usda-decision-allowing-re-opening-us-horse-slaughter-facility

    This is the worst economy since the Great Depression. In addition to the cost of the USDA inspecting plants, at a price tag of $400,000.00 per plant to U.S. taxpayers, the meat will not even be eaten in the U.S. Why should we, as American taxpayers, pay for these inspections?

    Additionally, we have to factor in the taxpayer expense of police officers who will likely be taking more reports on horse theft and making more investigations into horse theft.

    As a horse owner, the thought of horse theft and stolen horses ending up at slaughter concerns me greatly. I would hope that it would concern you, too. Many people think of their horses as family members.

  • I am against the USDA opening up inspections for the proposed horse slaughter plants in the United States because horses in the U.S. are not raised for human consumption. As a grower of corn, wheat and soybeans, having the USDA inspect horse slaughter plants concerns me as well.

    Horses are our friends and companions (at least they are my friends and companions), and as such they are treated with drugs like cats and dogs to a wide variety of vaccinations, bacterins, topical and oral treatments that are not approved for human consumption. We use gloves with topical treatments, because we don’t want equine drugs touching our skin, let alone consuming them.

    It’s not economical to raise horses for slaughter in the U.S., because it takes more money to raise a foal to maturity than the horse meat market is willing to pay. It’s an economical losing proposition. Therefore, the USDA has no business inspecting a horse slaughter plant that by default will be receiving horses that are not fit for human consumption. The horses they will be receiving have not been raised drug-free for human consumption.

    As a grower of corn, wheat and soybeans, the USDA’s reputation directly affects many. The European Union, which is where most of the horse meat would go, has a zero tolerance for Bute (Phenylbutazone) , which is routinely given to horses in the U.S. It is estimated that 90% of horses in the U.S. have been treated with this drug, not to mention all of the other drugs.

    There is no good way to test for all of these drugs on every horse destined for slaughter, which would need to be done, since they are not raised for human consumption in the U.S. Many tests would need to be run on each horse, and there is no way to do this in a timely fashion, especially given that the tests have to be run after the horse is dead, and that autopsies need to be performed within 24 hours. University testing facilities are not normally open for testing on the weekends, and it takes time to transport the dead body parts for testing.

    Most of the horses destined for slaughter are young or middle-aged, and in the prime of their lives. Two that have been rescued from slaughter have gone on and are now showing at the Morgan Grand National level.

    Here is information on what New Jersey has done regarding horse slaughter in the hopes that readers will take note:

    http://www.oceancountysignal.com/2012/09/21/dancer-bill-banning-horse-meat-for-human-consumption-signed-into-law/

    “The law prohibits anyone from knowingly slaughtering or selling a horse for human consumption.”

  • I agree with Dena!!!!!
    *****To ANY anti-slaughter people out there – please provide your address and I will be happy to transport at least 3 underfed horses to your facility at no charge. This is not a joke. Just let me know when you want them delivered.*****

  • Please don’t let this happen .God created them for us.I will feed them.. where is your heart? I have done the research.. This is wrong………

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