Horse Slaughter Industry May Be on Its Last Legs

[Judi Lynn]

Horse Slaughter Industry May Be on Its Last Legs
Congress to Consider Outlawing Practice of Killing Horses For Meat

By VICKI MABREY

Sept. 6, 2006 — A bipartisan group of activists and lawmakers held demonstrations this week in Washington, pushing for the passage of legislation that would ban the sale or killing of horses for human consumption. The House of Representitives is expected to act on the measure as soon as this week.

Horse slaughtering has been quietly practiced for decades. It's an emotional issue that has passions running high on both sides. About 90,000 horses a year are sent to the slaughterhouse in the United States. There are three horse slaughterhouses still operating here, two in Texas and one in Illinois.
(snip)

The way things are going right now they are cruelly transported, they are cruelly destroyed. We are not talking about euthanasia," Miller says, "We are talking about slaughter. There is a difference."

Americans don't eat horse meat. So, except for a small amount that's fed to zoo animals, most of the 20,000 tons of horse meat that's processed here annually is shipped overseas for the dinner tables of Europe and Asia. The anti-horse slaughter movement was galvanized when the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, was killed and eaten in Japan.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2396197&page=1&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[MADem]

1. What about dog food? Or is that a fiction? NT

[Donnachaidh]

3. as far as I know they still use horses in dog food.

And I personally think that the figure of 9,000 horses slaughtered a year is LOW.

Horse-racing's dirty little secret is the FACT that all those geldings that are raced have nowhere to go except to the slaughterhouses. They make their owners thousands of dollars, but when they break down they are sold to the houses.

I think they are aonly talking about part of the problem.

[happyslug]

6. Note the language "For Human consumption"

90,000 horses at about 1800 pounds each, that comes to way less than 20,000 ton of meant. Even if you lose 1/2 of the weight you are still dealing with at least 45,000 TONS of meat (90,000 horses times 1000 pounds/ 2000 pounds to a ton, or about 45,000 TONS).

I suspect the 25,000 tons of meat is go to dog food. And I suspect a lot of the "Waste" of the horse, bones etc also goes into dog food as the meat goes overseas.

[ret5hd]

34. A lot goes to zoos...

You don't think they feed t-bones to those tigers, do ya?

[Massacure]

35. Just because a horse ways 1800 pounds doesn't mean it has that much meat.

2/3 of that is probably water. Not to mention bones and other inedible things.

[happyslug]

37. That is why I use 1000 pounds instead of 1800 pounds.

Furthermore while they amy be only 1000 pounds of meat as you and I define the term meat, they are additional "meat" as that term is defined by the USDA (Including Bone and other parts of the animal). A lot of such USDA defined meat is used in dog and cat food. Thus part of the butchering of these animals may go to Human food overseas, but other parts may go to Pet food in the US.

[Massacure]

56. My best guess would be 500 or 600 pounds.

If you divide 20,000 by 90,000 you get .2222 repeating tons per horse, or about 440 pounds per horse. I don't see that being unreasonable considering most animals are between 2/3 and 3/4 water by weight.

[RadiDem]

2. I ate horse in EU, and am convinced the beef ind. is complicit

I'm convinced the beef industry is complicit in keeping horse meat illegal to buy and sell in the USA. What's so special about a horse as opposed to a pig, a cow, an ostrich, or even a bunny-rabbit, that should make them illegal to consume?

[expatriot]

4. I think this is great, I just can't wait until more eyes open... and see

the same beauty and desire for dignity in the eyes of pigs, cattle and chickens as they do in horses, cats and dogs.

[LeftyMom]

11. I believe that day will come

Until then, our work is cut out for us. *sigh*

[Irreverend IX]

48. You realize that if these creatures stop being used for food...

Their populations will be slaughtered en masse, correct? I'm vegan and would happily do away with the cultivation of the above creatures, wasteful as it is, but some people don't seem to realize that if their use as food ends so will their existence.

[The Stranger]

61. Well, today, just be glad it hasn't turned into a PETA bashing thread,

with "Progressive" DUers repeatedly posting "Mmmmmmmm, burgers!" The reactionary climate has closed people's minds -- even those who considered their minds open.

[UndertheOcean]

5. What utter hypocrisy .. eating a cow is ok , while eating a horse is

not...

[Judi Lynn]

8. Not everyone feels eating cows is great.

A lot of people are moving away from pointless primitive thoughtless behavior. It's never too late to start.

If you can live without killing animals, why insist something suffers to make you feel as utterly sated as you would hope? *burp*

[Spider Jerusalem]

54. It's not 'pointless, primitive, thoughtless behaviour'...

it's perfectly natural omnivore behaviour to eat the flesh of animals as well as fruits, vegetables, legumes, etc. And humans, like it or not, are omnivores. Your choosing to eschew meat in favour of a vegetarian diet neither alters that basic fact nor makes it immoral for others not to make your choice.

[The Stranger]

62. Humans eat by choice -- they dominate their environment, rather than

depend upon it. So the choice becomes a question of what is best for other humans, other species, and the planet. The planet doesn't belong to any one human being.

So then, my friend, you are on your way to what is moral.

[leftchick]

10. I agree with you

I do not eat any mammals. :(

[KittyWampus]

33. The issue is eating horses that have been pets or worked in some

capacity for their human owners.

[winston61]

7. I hope that every moron that opposes this

will be forced to take and care for and feed an unwanted horse. What fucking hypocrites! Do they eat beef or pork or chicken or fish? I'm a carnivore, but I do draw the line at veal. When we are up to our asses in tired old useless horses, what then? Zoos across the country rely on horse meat for the large cats. And can you believe that congress is even wasting 10 minutes on this weak bullshit?

[LeftyMom]

16. Maybe people should stop breeding and exploiting horses for entertainment

The slaughtered horses are largely discards of the racing industry. If they intend to breed them and wear thier bodies down they should at least have the decency to care for them when they can't race anymore.

[achtung_circus]

23. FYI

most of the Thouroughbred and Standardbred horses destined for meat have never been near a track. They don't have the desire to run or the conformation or the pysical endurance. They were created on spec, based to a large extent on bloodlines.

They are only part of the source for abbatoirs, though.

[LeftyMom]

27. And none of them deserve to die in such a place

Poor things. :(

[winston61]

92. Have you got a dog or a cat?

Those animals are bred for the sole purpose of exploitation by humans. As pets. Oh sure,we take good care of 'em but what is the reason for their existence? Just to entertain us and keep us company. So boycott the puppy mills! Shut down the AKC! Burn all your copies of Cat Fancy! Call PETA! What bullshit.

[Kali]

38. I have no idea what the actual stats are, but there are a HELL of a lot

of junky grade horses that go through our local sales that weren't ever race horses. They are all going to slaughter and I think most of them are basically unwanted pets. For you peta-type folks, you know euthanasia is a necesary evil. What are you going to do with all those unwanted horses?

It's a bit more of a problem burying old Dobbins compared to planting fido in the back yard. Might as well make use of the meat.

Stopping horse slaughter isn't going to help stop cruelty, racing or any other of the problems you may think it will. In fact I bet you will see a huge increase in abandonments and starvation cases.

[Hawkowl]

42. I have 2 rescued horses

Humanity owes a great debt to horses. Up until 100 years ago they were the MAIN source of transportation and farm tractors.

In addition, horses are extremely, extremely intelligent. Some researchers put them just below primates such as chimps. Do you support eating chimps after the medical researchers are through with them? How about people in nursing homes? Yummy. Worthless old people taking up bed space. Maybe we can butcher and sell them to Africans?

Idiot.

[LostinVA]

78. Agreed

[LostinVA]

77. Then a vet can use a humane killer and treat the horse's

life and death with dignity. These animals are often companion animals or basically employees of humans. They deserve better.

And, our livestock also deserves to be treated better, in both life and death.

I'm glad Congress is "wasting" its time on this. I hope they "waste" much more time on animal rights issues.

[msongs]

9. meanwhile the people slaughter industry goes on unchallenged by congress

so save the whales, save the horses, and kill people. let's hear it for moral family values.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[LeftyMom]

13. Exploitation is exploitation.

We can't stop one while benefiting from another, we have to eliminate the whole mindset that allows people to mistreat other living beings in such a way. The "othering" process starts with animals, then some people get demoted to animal status. Until we treat animals with respect we have no hope of stoping that mentality.

[Biernuts]

18. So when does life become human life worth protecting?

Conception, uterine attachment in the womb, fetal viability, birth, military enlistment? One of the best definitions I heard was that life really begins when the kids move out of the house.

[Karenina]

19. Freeze dry that "collateral damage"

till we figure out the packaging and marketing campaign! That Lebanese roast baby tush is not as contaminated as that from I-rak! Pour a little ketchup over it, the tomato sucks up the radiation...

[UndertheOcean]

21. Now thats sick ...

wow... what imagination.

[Karenina]

26. Welcome to DU, UtO!

:hi: Do you get that my darkest imaginations have NOTHING on the reality of what's happening to "others" at the hands of the U.S.*MIC?

[The Stranger]

63. It's odd that you see the protection of another as an attack on you.

The protection of animals and human rights are mutually exclusive?

What gave you that completely fucking ridiculous idea?

[Robb]

12. Memo to chickens: learn a trick.

"The anti-horse slaughter movement was galvanized when the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, was killed and eaten in Japan."


:eyes:

[JVS]

51. Well they used to fight, but now that's not allowed!

;-)

[u4ic]

89. Exceller

was the first high profile horse to have been known to be slaughtered, in the mid 90's in Sweden.

[bahrbearian]

14. Thanks to that great Republican thats leading the fight..

Bo Derek

[FILAM23]

15. So its alright with you

that thousands of unwanted horses will just be turned
loose in the country just like unwanted cats and dogs are.
People don't use their heads on subjects like this, just
their emotions..And as far as the treatment it is no worse then
the way cows or pigs are treated and what is wrong with eating horse meat
anyway?

[UndertheOcean]

22. And , pray tell , is wrong with letting animals loose in open spaces ?

weren't they doing just that when humans came along ?

Some people eat horse because its yummy , not to protect our open spaces from feral animals

[achtung_circus]

24. Which open spaces.

Do you wish horses to displace Elk, Moose, Deer. Do you want the horse herds to cause damage to water sources that the much lighter and smaller groups of NATURAL inhabitants of those "open spaces" do not cause.

Do want to turn the continent into a petting zoo?

[xchrom]

28. uh -- horses are NATURAL inhabitants

of the north american landscape.

they were here in many thousands before dying out shortly before large numbers of first nations people came to live here.

horses are one the species that formed the way the far west looks now.

[Xithras]

31. Actually, those people probably made them extinct.

It's fairly well understood today that the first Native American's probably drove a lot of species to extinction when they first arrived, because those species weren't adapted to human predators. Examinations of bones indicates that the first people here ate and killed off the Giant Ground Sloth, the horses, and several other slow breeding species. Horse numbers were already down significantly as North American grasslands vanished beneath the growing forests at the end of the last ice age, but there's little question that humans were the final nail in their coffins. Bison are the only large bodied herbivore that survived the introduction of humans into North America, and it was only their extreme numbers and aggressive demeanor that kept them from extinction.

[xchrom]

45. actualy first nations people and their responsiblity for

extinctions has been in doubt now for some time.

the animals probably went extinct due to environmental pressures.

[achtung_circus]

32. Avoid the question.

Horses were one of the species probably hunted to extinction after the arrival of man on this continent approximately 8,000 years ago. Others include wooly mammoth and mastadon. Google "Clovis".

The question remains, where are these horses to go? Which species, elk, bison, other ungulate are they to replace?

[xchrom]

44. they won't replace any of them

they live along side those creatures just fine.

you need to read about how species interact -- and competition.

they live along side them now in certain parts of the u.s. -- and they can live in others -- as they are doing as some wild horses are being introduces into other areas.

[achtung_circus]

46. They compete.

For grazing and water access.

They displace.

[xchrom]

47. horses and elk etc do not compete for

the same browse.

herbivores they are -- yes -- but there the comparison ends.

[Kali]

60. Maybe we can just make Canada a horse refuge -

it's just a big ol' open space.

:rofl:

[FILAM23]

65. Actually I heard on the radio just yesterday that slaughter houses

in Canada buy 25,000 horses a year from the US.

[achtung_circus]

75. Where men are men

and sheep are nervous.

[petersjo02]

86. Oh, little sweetcakes,

those animals have all lived together peachefully for thousands of years. Are you seriously trying to imply that stopping horse slaughter will endanger elk? I doubt there is any scientific evidence yyou can cite to make that case. And as for bison, it was the human race that brought the bison to the edge of extinction, not horses. Grazing animals tend to eat different types of vegetation, so different species can co-exist on the same land. Cattle ranchers don't like wild horses competing with their cattle for grazing, but that is a money/greed thing, definitely NOT a case of horses causing cattle to starve. What on earth makes you think that the horses that would otherwise be headed for slaughter would be turned out to fend for themselves anyway? Not real sound thinking on your part. Just flame material, I suspect.

[MUSTANG_2004]

97. Not these horses

Thousands of years of breeding for specific purposes have changed their characteristics. Domesticated horses are very different than wild horses.

[Kali]

59. Plenty of things wrong with just letting animals

loose in "open spaces". Are you one of those assholes that dumps cats and dogs off at the end of my road? "Oh Fifi will be happy living on the nice ranch, its so pretty and peaceful here, maybe the nice rancher will take her in" or even worse one of those dick heads that move to the "country" and promptly let your pets loose to chase cattle and wildlife? "Lassie would never do that, he is always just waiting for me on the porch when I come home, I just know he would NEVER kill your chickens"

Then a few years ago when the ostrich business (pyramid scheme) went bust and everybody just turned their stock loose in the "open space". Coyotes got some exotic food for a while there, of course they were half starved and easy pickings.

Most of the horses I see going to slaughter would die a slow horrible death if they were just turned out in the "open space" to try and make it on their own. What kind of fantasy world do you live in?

Just what do you mean by "open spaces"? Most open space is already either stocked to capacity by the owner or lessee of the land and is already being managed to the maximum benefit of both wildlife and human, OR it has been reserved as strictly wildlife/"nature" habitat and I guarantee that most of the folks involved in those kinds of places sure as HELL don't want a bunch of sickly unwanted domestic horses destroying conditions!

[aaronbees]

40. There are better alternatives to slaughter

Humane euthanasia, retirement/rescue organizations, finding a new home with someone local, or letting a horse live out his or her life are far preferable to slaughter. Perhaps laws to limit breeding for sport? (Not sure I support that but would like the possibility to be considered.)(And to horse racing bashers, the majority of horses headed to slaughter are not thoroughbred horses who raced. Honestly, though, I'm not sure about quarter horses.) For many there is a different kind of emotional attachment to horses; whether that's sensible or not, that's the way it is. Horses have helped humans in uniquely different ways than cattle and other animals, so to many the idea of chomping down on a slice of horse is just a disgusting slap in the face to these noble creatures. Horse slaughter had actually dropped since the '80s from a level of about 300,000 per year down to today's level, though in recent years it's risen slightly; I don't see thousands of horses roaming around unwanted since the drop in the '80s, do you? The pro-horse slaughter folks are in this for one thing: the money.

Here's a decent overview of some facts and arguments on both sides: http://ncseonline.org/NLE/CRSreports/06Jul/RS21842.pdf

And some thoughts from folks in the racing industry: http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=33920

"When you own a horse, it's your responsibility to care for that horse. We can control their conditions as human beings," said Gretchen Jackson, owner of Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Barbaro, who is recovering from a severe injury he sustained during the Preakness (gr. I).

Arthur Hancock, who bred and/or raced three Derby winners and owns Stone Farm near Paris, Ky., concurred with Jackson and warned Thoroughbred sellers to watch out for suspicious "killer buyers," who often use misleading information to coax people into selling their horses for cheap prices, after which they are vanned straight to the slaughterhouses.

In addition, thousands of horses are stolen each year, including two racehorses that were recently unlawfully taken from a barn at Thistledown to be sold on the slaughter market.

"I'm for outlawing the slaughter of horses because they're not bred for the food chain--they're companion animals. (Slaughtering) is a betrayal of trust," Hancock said. "It's a very vicious practice and it's not necessary," he added, pointing out the retirement farms across the county that are willing to give good homes to Thoroughbreds whose owners can no longer care for them.

[Hawkowl]

43. Do you eat cats and dogs?

A more apt comparison is to a cat or dog for simply the pet value. However, a horse is much more intelligent. They are very close to primate smart. For those of us that own horses, they can amaze you every day with something new they have learned or deduced or...taught their barn mates.

The only contact you have probably had with farm animals is thru cellophane at your grocery store. And from that perspective I'm sure you could not distinguish, pig, horse, cow, or even packaged homo sapiens.

[EnviroBat]

53. Well Said...

Horses have a sense of their own mortality. Here in Ohio we have a farm where horses are used as healing animals to children with autism. If people feel the need to slaughter animlas, we should be looking into dignified and humane methods to give animals, ANY animal a painless and peaceful death. To consume the meat of an animal who was terrified in it's last moments is to cosume that beings last energy and afflict that stress upon yourself. Take a tour of a slaughter house sometime, naw on second thought McDonalds drive through is just around the corner.

[LostinVA]

81. They have something like that around here -- it's great

[FILAM23]

64. Many cultures eat dog and cat

and many eat horse, I have no problem with any animal being
used for food. Personally I have eaten all three, eat none on
a regular basis but when in Rome etc...And I grew up on a farm
and have had contact with all kinds of farm animals

[LostinVA]

82. Some cultures, not out cultures

And, I have a REAL problem with anyone in the US eating dog or cat.

And, I know livestock and farms up close and personal.

[FILAM23]

85. But many people

from those cultures now live in our country.
If they want to eat dogs, cats, horses, ants, spiders or
anything else should be their right...Or do you insist that
these immigrants conform to our customs??

[JVS]

52. In the year 2020 feral horses will roam the land? Sweet!

[warrens]

73. Nah, they've been killing domestic and farm animals

If you sell horses at auction, the slaughterhouse is the next stop most of the time. Big demand in Europe.

[LostinVA]

80. It's called killing them humanely and with dignity

Not slaughtering them evilly and violently.

Why do so many people on this thread feel it has to be either/or???

[achtung_circus]

17. And what will you do

with the horses for which there are not places to live? The racing industry generates thousands of "excess" horses per year, backyard hobby breeders generate thousands more. Mennonites and the Amish use horses for an energy source. What happens at the end of their working lifetime?

Just asking. The ability to care for all these horses does not exist.

[LeftyMom]

25. Than perhaps they should stop breeding so many to exploit

:shrug:

[Kali]

39. ok but in the mean time before we reach YOUR idea of perfect

human morality, there are a hell of a lot of already existing details that need to be attended to.

[LeftyMom]

83. Like what?

We're already perfectly aware of how horses breed and thus how not to breed more. We also know full well how to humanely euthanize a horse, and how to care for an aging horse.

Until the profitable escape valve for overpopulation is removed there's no incentive not to breed as many horses as one can sell.

[xchrom]

29. perhaps -- and this would be the proper thing to do --

they will have to pay the price tag for the horses to live out their old age.

however -- i believe the main purpose of this bill is to get at the people who slaughter wild horses.

[Xithras]

30. Shoot them...

...and call the rendering plant. That's what happens today in California since they can't be sold here for food anymore (not even animal food). One of my neighbors put down an old nag a few weekends ago, and it's bloated body sat at the end of his driveway waiting for the rendering truck for four days. It was eventually carted off, its flesh stripped and mulched, and its bones rendered for glue and makeup.

A few years ago he would have simply called a service to pick the horse up, slaughter it, and it would have been used to feed other animals. Sadly, people wanting to "save" the horses made that illegal, so nowadays the horses end up just as dead, but the bodies are used in industry instead of being fed to other animals as nature intended.

[Judi Lynn]

20. It's never too late to develope respect for all life.Easy to see how it

goes WITHOUT respect and without any sense of responsibility.

How many more thousand years will it take before someone figures it out?

Backing away from seeing animals as entertainment and as simple "property" is a damned good place to start.

Trying to grapple with the "Golden Rule" concerning one's fellow people can take a lifetime. We weren't given these brain-twisters just to irritate us.

Respecting creatures doesn't mean you are shorting human beings, although some of the slower ones among us seem to think it.

[Jersey Ginny]

36. I respect your view but disagree

Humans who eat meat can honor and respect the animal who gave its life. My Zen monastary is not vegitarian. We honor all the food that we eat. I don't have a problem with horse slaughter as long as the horse is treated respectfully on the journey and that the death is quick and complete. As a horse owner, I know that many horses that go to slaughter are sickly and on drugs or doped up by owners on lots of tranquilizers and I can't imagine that the meat is that healthy. My old horse will be buried one day.

[TommyO]

55. Thank you, Jersey Ginny

for expressing my thoughts in a way that I was having trouble putting into words. Unlike a few of the posters here, I don't have problems with using animals for food, even horses, as long as they are treated well and killed quickly. If they feel that makes me less human, or humane, that's their issue, not mine.

[w4rma]

41. Something we actually export! But they are looking at banning it. (nt)

[leftyladyfrommo]

49. Yes! I want to see them shut down.

For a whole bunch of reasons.

[JVS]

50. How much does horse meat cost?

[FILAM23]

66. A few years ago

in France an equine sirloin cost more then a beef sirloin

[fidgeting wildly]

57. "We're not talking about euthanasia."

This is not a humane disposal of unwanted animals. Two of the three remaining US plants are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and they are horrible places. For anyone wishing to understand what really happens there, The Dallas Observer (local alternative weekly) ran an article in Sept. 2005 about Dallas Crown and some of the horrors that go on, and how it's affecting the community. Before you read on or click the link, it's somewhat graphic. (No pictures, just a description.)

All the Pretty Horses...
At the Dallas Crown horse-slaughtering plant, located alongside a poor but friendly black neighborhood in nearby Kaufman, the specter of death spreads far past the guarded boundaries of the industrial facility. Horse hides flop off a rickety conveyor belt and lie for hours in an uncovered trailer, unleashing a vicious, far-reaching odor that swarms up and down the narrow residential streets. Discarded bones lie in an adjacent backyard, perhaps thrown over by Crown employees or licked dry and left by stray dogs that gnawed off the meat when no one was looking. Then there are the horses. You can hear them rustle and neigh nervously as they await a trip to a sterile pen to face the lethal bolt that will pound them in the skull...

[Bake]

58. Somebody fucking ATE FERDINAND????!!!!

Jesus H. Keeeeerist!!! I had no idea. I am just speechless!! And mad as hell.

Bake

[PittPoliSci]

70. that was my reaction too.

I don't think I could eat something that had a name. But then again, I am just a hypocritical meat eater.

[plasticsundance]

67. WRFG in Atlanta had something about this yesterday

on the show called Second Opinion. The show is on every Wednesday at 6PM. It deals with animal rights issues. The bill before Congress on this issue is HR503. I wrote my Congress person about supporting the ban. I thought the vote was to take place this morning.

One thing is true is that horses have served human society well.

The way these horses face their slaughter is appalling, and it has nothing to do euthanasia. The horses are shipped in miserable conditions, and when they arrive at the slaughterhouse they are herded into the warehouse where the first thing they see are other horses being slaughtered. Horses are very social animals, so this terrifies them. They are then stunned in the head, hoisted and stripped down.

And no ... this doesn't just involve discarded animals near death. That's just plain bullshit told in an effort to justify this horrid action. Many people sell their horses unwittingly to people representing the slaughterhouses. The sellers think that they're selling their horses to a caring home, but without their knowledge their horses will be taken to a slaughterhouse.

These slaughterhouses are owned by countries like Belgium, and they're not doing it for dog food.

[petersjo02]

87. Creates a market for stolen horses, too

At 60 cents a pound, it is worth a thieve's time to pull into a driveway after dark, lure a 1,000 lb horse to the fence with some grain, catch it by the halter (that shouldn't have been left on in the first place), cut the fence, load the horse up, and off it goes to the nearest sale.

[achtung_circus]

96. Around here

the going rate is 20 to 40 cents per pound on a liveweight basis.

[Eugene]

68. AP: House Votes to Ban Horse Slaughter

House Votes to Ban Horse Slaughter


Thursday September 7, 2006 8:46 PM

By LIBBY QUAID

AP Food and Farm Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The House voted on Thursday to ban the slaughter
of horses for meat, a practice that lawmakers thought they already
had ended.

Instead of banning it outright, Congress last year yanked the salaries
and expenses of federal inspectors. But the Bush administration simply
started charging slaughter plants for inspections, and the slaughter
has continued.

The House vote was 263-146 to outlaw the slaughter of horses for human
consumption.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6065223,00.html

[achtung_circus]

76. I read this in the link

"Unlike other countries, U.S. law requires that horses and other livestock be unable to feel pain before they are killed."

Total nonsense.

From the Meat Inspection Act of Canada, Meat Inspection Regulation

79. Every food animal that is slaughtered shall, before being bled,

(a) be rendered unconscious in a manner that ensures that it does not regain consciousness before death, by one of the following methods:

(i) by delivering a blow to the head by means of a penetrating or non-penetrating mechanical device in a manner that causes immediate loss of consciousness,

(ii) by exposure to a gas or a gas mixture in a manner that causes a rapid loss of consciousness, or

(iii) by the application of an electrical current in a manner that causes immediate loss of consciousness; or

(b) be killed by one of the methods set out in paragraph (a) or, in the case of a bird or a domesticated rabbit, by rapid decapitation.

[Eclectic Man]

69. As long as they don't come after my filet mignon next...

[depakid]

79. Not to worry

Muricans will always be able to eat subsidized e coli and BSE laden beef til their hearts content- (or congested).

[FILAM23]

88. They will

n/t

[warrens]

71. It got banned. 263-146, the bill banning horse slaughter passed

Kinda hypocritical, but OTOH, the industry was pretty sneaky about buying people's horses ostensibly to raise them or for a farm or whatever, then turning them into steak.

[KamaAina]

72. Ferdinand: He's what's for dinner?!

The other white meat??!! :puke: :puke: :puke:



http://www.fund4horses.org/print.php?id=600

According to Lundgren, Ohio and Pennsylvania send the most horses to death than any other states in the country, many of them ending up in either Texas or Illinois.

OH and PA are the two states with the largest Amish populations (Holmes County, OH is actually the most Amish place in the country), where horses are still used as beasts of burden.

After winning the 1986 Kentucky Derby and being crowned "America's Horse of the Year" in 1987, Ferdinand, a golden chestnut, was retired into breeding in Kentucky. Rendered inadequate as a stud, Ferdinand was sold to Japanese breeding interests and was eventually "digested" by the horse disposal system.

Poor Ferdinand. If only there'd been veterinary Viagra.. :spank:

[u4ic]

90. It doesn't mean he couldn't breed

just that his offspring didn't do well on the track. Less and less breeders sent mares to him, and he wouldn't have been thought 'worth his keep'. :-(

[aaronbees]

93. I'm always amazed someone didn't bring him back to Old Friends or

Kentucky Horse Park or someplace similar where he could round out his days in peace. Out of sight, out of mind, unfortunately. :( That said, I'm very happy about this vote.

And hello, u4ic. :hi:

[u4ic]

95. As I recall,

Old Friends was started in the wake of Ferdinand's death.

I don't think his owner would have even thought of the KHP. Would they have paid for him to be shipped back, I wonder? I guess it's a moot point. :(

I'm glad about the vote, too.

Hi aaronbees! :hi:

[lonestarnot]

74. Yeah! Don't put any screws in them!

[Nutmegger]

84. This is kind of goofy no?

Cows have to endure horrible treatment, just the same as horses, pigs and chickens.

[flvegan]

91. Very true.

Something for all of us to think about...

Not "goofy" though, no.

[Javaman]

94. Right there with you...

We slaughter cows who have just as much right to live as a horse, but no one goes crazy over that.

Horses are just as exploited and used as cows are yet, they are held up to a higher regard, because? :shrug:

Up until about the 1920's, horse meat was eaten fairly regularly in this nation.

Given that fact, I find it interesting that as cars become more prevalent in society, eating horses went down while eating cows went up. One would think that since horses were no longer being used as beasts of burden, by and large, they would easily become a big part of the human food chain.

Go figure.

So, let me get this straight, the slaughtering of horses is bad, the slaughtering of cows is good, the slaughtering of just about any other animal that isn't on the endangered species list is also good.

But horses are off limits. Okay, I'm good to go now.

oy.