On
April 27, during the U.S. Senate's regular session,
Sen. John Ensign of Nevada introduced
legislation designed to halt the practice of
slaughtering horses for the purpose of human
consumption. According to Ensign, 50,000 horses were
destroyed in the United States last year and exported
for consumption in other countries.
“I believe, as
a senator and a veterinarian, that it is time for this
practice to end,” said Ensign, who was a practicing
veterinarian before his election to Congress. “A
series of recent polls shows Americans overwhelmingly
support a ban on the slaughter of horses for human
consumption. State laws aimed at ending this barbaric
practice have fallen short, allowing foreign companies
to destroy horses for food in plants located within
the United States.”
According to the
American Horse Defense Fund, all horses slaughtered in
the United States are processed through one of two
equine slaughter plants, both located in North Texas
and owned by French and Belgian interests: Dallas
Crown Packing Inc. in Kaufman and Beltex Corp. in Fort
Worth. The Illinois legislature is considering
prohibiting horse slaughter, as another plant, Cavel
International, is making plans to open a slaughtering
facility in DeKalb.
Annually, more
than 50,000 American horses are slaughtered to be
shipped to Europe and Asia. The Japanese are
especially fond of the pricey meat, which they pay
about $20 a pound. Annual horse meat consumption in
Japan exceeds 20,000 tons, two-thirds of which are
imported from Canada, the U.S. and Australia.
A spike in the
European demand for horse meat came on the heels of
outbreaks of mad cow and foot and mouth disease. The
lean meat, considered a low fat alternative to beef,
is especially popular in France, Belgium and Italy. In
addition to the U.S., Mexico, Argentina, Australia and
Canada also export large quantities of horse meat.
Some opponents
of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act argue
that the slaughter of horses for consumption offers
horse owners an inexpensive way to dispose of horses
that no longer serve a useful purpose. However,
supporters of the bill suggest other options,
including numerous rescue and rehabilitation
organizations, as well as humane euthanasia by a
veterinarian.
Ensign's
legislation is supported by the American Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the National
Horse Protection Coalition, and the Humane Society of
the United States, among other organizations. A
version of the bill in the House of Representatives
has more than 200 co-sponsors.