Mary S. Nash
104 S. Houston Street
Kaufman , Texas   75142
NashHulme@msn.com
972-962-7706
April 4, 2003  

Ms. Beverly Woolley, Chair
Calendars Committee
P. O. Box 2910
Austin , Tx 78768  

Re:  Betty Brown’s Live Horse Slaughter Bill - HB 1324  

Dear Ms. Woolley:  

Please reject Betty Brown’s live horse slaughter bill, HB 1324 that would legalize Texas live horse slaughter for human consumption.  There are only 2 live horse slaughter plants in the United States and they are both in Texas - Beltex in Fort Worth and Dallas Crown in Kaufman.  The 40 acre farm adjacent to Dallas Crown has been in my family for 150 years.  On March 25 I testified before the House Agriculture & Livestock Committee that I see horses waiting for slaughter and they do not look old, sick or lame.  This photo was taken at Dallas Crown on September 1, 2002 .  

 On Friday, March 28, documentary film student Tiffany Bartlett and I visited General Manager Manfred Ramault of Dallas Crown.  In accordance with Agriculture Code §148.011(c), Mr. Ramault gave us a list of the killer-buyers who routinely supply horses to Dallas Crown.  They are Norman Franklin, Ocala, FL; Brian Jones, Tell, TX; Dennis Kunz, Willard, UT; Charlie Nielsen, Council Bluff, IA; Jack Reinert, Quinn, SD; Bill Richardson, Whitesboro, TX; Billy Rowan, New Albany, MS; Leon Spain, Los Lunas, NM; Mitch Stanley, Hamburg, AR; I. W. Ward, Axtell, TX; Trent Ward, Kaufman, TX; and John White, Decatur, TX.

For many years people in Kaufman were lulled into thinking that the Dallas Crown slaughter horses were old, sick or lame.  I now know that these killer-buyers drive from auction to auction picking up solid, meaty horses so wealthy French and Belgian diners can pay $15-$20 per pound for their “delicacy”, American horse flesh.  

Please reject Betty Brown’s live horse slaughter bill.  

Sincerely,  

Mary S. Nash