Horse slaughter
Horse slaughter plants have become legal again, after Congress quietly unbridled restrictions on processing horse meat. [1]
That de facto ban on horse slaughter has now come to an end, to the outrage of the animal rights community, amid reports that US horse owners were simply shipping their animals to Mexico and Canada for slaughter and processing. [2]
Horse slaughter itself was never specifically banned, but Congress in 2006 prohibited any money being spent to regulate and inspect horses being transported for domestic slaughter. [3]
Horse slaughter is similar to beef slaughter except for the fact that the overhead rail that the dressed horse carcasses ride on during process is two feet higher than a feedlot beef dressing line to suit the varying sizes of the carcasses. [4]
If you’re ready to add horse to your eating habits, then you’re in luck thanks to President Obama who has legalized horse slaughter for human consumption, Technorati has reported. [5]
In an effort to encourage more rescues, Congress pulled the plug on funding for inspection of the country’s horse slaughter houses in 2006, essentially shutting them down. [6]
Horse slaughter policy in America has entered a new era. [7]
I have been encouraged by the response of racing horsemen who are quite upset about the change in the law legalizing horse slaughter and they want to know what the standardbred world can do about it with many wanting the USTA to take steps. [8]
A Department of Agriculture bill, signed into law Nov. 18, reinstates federal funding for USDA inspection of horse meat intended for human consumption, which Congress had withheld since 2006. [2]
Horses are widely perceived as companion animals like cats and dogs, or deserving of humane consideration because of their roles serving Americans as working animals and for sport - and because they are not bred or raised for food in the U.S. In addition, the routine abuse and inhumane treatment horses are subjected to in the slaughter pipeline has created strong objection from horse owners to the industry’s continued usage of American horses. [4]
Sources:
[1] U.S. horse slaughter plants in the very early stages of planning …
[2] Way cleared for horse slaughter to resume in US after 5-year ban
[3] Obama, Congress restore U.S. horse-slaughter industry - Washington …
[4] Horse slaughter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[5] Horse Slaughter for Human Consumption Now Legal Thanks to …
[6] America’s horse slaughter houses to reopen
[7] Horse Slaughter Ban Lifted: Congress Reinstates Federal Funding
[8] View From the Racetrack Grandstand: Horse Slaughter - Now What?