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The Montana State Senate on Thursday narrowly passed a bill that would make it easier for a person to start a horse slaughter or processing facility in the state. Currently there are no equine slaughter facilities in the United States, but there are facilities in Canada and Mexico.
Legislative News Reporter Natalie Neumann found out what concerned the Senate on the bill and you can listen to her report here or with the player below.
The bill says a state court may not issue an injunction stopping or delaying the construction of an equine slaughter or processing facility. Democrat Dave Wanzenried of Missoula says the bill would create a special protection that is not necessary.
“For those of you who want to form a slaughterhouse. Form it, do it right. Do it according to the regulations you say you are going to abide by but don’t hamstring the legal process that something on it’s face, and i’m not an attorney, would appear not to be constitutional.”
Bill supporter Republican Senator Taylor Brown of Huntley says the issue of horse slaughter is hard to deal with because there is so much human emotion involved. Some opponents say their are other ways to dispose of unwanted horses. Rick Ripley, a Republican from Wolf Creek agrees there are other ways to dispose of horses, but they are limitted.
“Not everybody takes the responsibility, personal responsibility to properly dispose of their horses. They turn them lose. They leave them to starve to death.”
Some senators are concerned that horse meat could contain medication administered to horses that are harmful for human consumption. The Food and Drug Administration has no horse meat inspectors. Missoula Senator Carol Williams says no other state in the country wants to get into the horse slaughter business.
“Why do we? Why do we want to sully the reputation we have as Montana’s brand name with putting a slaughter house in Montana.”
Supporters of the bill say a facility would be good for the states economy. The bill passed on a 27 to 23 vote.
Natalie Neumann is reporting from the state capitol for the University of Montana’s Legislative News Service.
This is very good news for our moribund local economy. I envision some entrepreneur out there opening up a string of equine fast food franchises ala Ted Turner and his buffalo grills. Horse meat is very good: ask the French. This could be a great way to cull all that excess wild horseflesh from the public lands. Just don’t tell T. Boone Pickens wife. Pass the BBQ sauce.
There is nothing particularly wrong with horse meat. It’s just a cultural taboo. I’ve eaten horse several times and it’s actually quite good if prepared right. Lots of other cultures eat horse meat. So long as it was FDA approved, who cares? It’s really not our business what other people eat. Besides, they could be slaughtered for dog food or any number of things. The horse is gonna die anyway, just be practical.
How about the rest of the 49 states boycotting Montana and letting them know how we feel about the brutality of horse slaughter??
YES, I eat steak!
The drug issue is the key here. Many horse owners treat their horses with Phenylbutazone and de-wormers such as Zimectrin, all of these are clearly labeled “Not for use in animals meant for food.” The FDA expressly bans these products in cattle and other animals that we eat here in America.
For those who say “It’s really not our business what other people eat”, that’s true. I could care less if people in France eat horsemeat, but as an American I don’t approve of the French or the Belgians forcing their cullture upon our country.
If we allow the horse slaughter business to gain a foothold in our country, it could lead to restrictions on what horse owners could treat their horses with (they have this in Europe, it’s called the “Horse Passport Scheme.”) Talk about an invasion of property rights.
I agree with RESCUES ONLY; I won’t give Montana a dime of my tourism dollars if they allow horse slaughter to become law. There are plenty of other states in the Union to see. Oh, and I also eat steak!
As Zinke himself so aptly put it last October while campaigning for the Senate, “Every case of ‘bad’ growth has been the result of short-term profit taking and lack of long-term planning and good judgment. A growth plan must take into consideration all aspects of impact ….” Yet, ironically, it was Zinke who rushed HB418, complete with protections against all legal challenge, through the Senate. Has Montana lost its mind? There are absolutely ZERO valid reasons to protect any business from legal challenge – much less this particular foreign-profiting Belgian meat giant with its long history of arrogant non-compliance which has already been kicked out of every state it has polluted to date!
Do not forget that if European horsemeat plants are allowed to operate in the US, every US horse owner will be REQUIRED to document barn to fork (as they already do in Europe)– and like is happening here with cattle. Oh, sure, it’s voluntary at first, but, like cattle, it will be mandatory. And do not forget it is OUR TAX DOLLARS that must pay the salaries of USDA inspectors at horse slaughter houses. Why should the rest of us pay – in more ways than one – just so an irresponsible minority can profit overbreeding for a slaughter trade?
We don’t eat horsemeat; we don’t need horse slaughtering plants; we don’t need the added disease risk [tick fever, VS, etc, etc, etc,] associated with mass transports of random source horses from Mexico into the US. For a state so paranoid about letting a few certified brucellosis-free bison out of quarantine, Montana sure is lax about becoming a magnet for every random source, tick-laden horse on the continent.
Jobs for 30 illegal aliens….big deal….it’s not worth it!
Which wine goes best horse burgers?
Horse meat doesn’t feed the poor; it isn’t eaten by Americans and won’t be. It doesn’t boost the U.S. or an individual state’s economy. It did provide over $12M in profit to a Belgian company which paid about $5 in taxes when operating in Kaufman, Texas. Horse meat does contain toxic chemicals from products and medications ingested by horses throughout their lives as they are not raised as food animals. The labels of these products and medications clearly state they are not for use in animals intended for human consumption. The USDA no longer provides funding for inspectors of horse meat in the U.S. Montana faces lawsuits and derision if HB418 to allow horse slaughter is passed. Hopefully the Governor has the best interests of his constituents in Montana foremost in his mind rather than the greedy interest of a foreign slaughter company uninterested in anything other than its own profit margin. Hey Montana – did you learn anything from Wall Street’s greed here in America? Same song, different animal!
I can hear Edith Bunker say, “I’m sorry, Gloria – I just can’t stop thinking of Mr. Ed!”
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If horse a slaughterhouse “provides good jobs” for Montucky (oops, I mean Montana), I would hate to see what a “bad job” is around here! Geeeze! As with domestic dogs and cats, horses breeding is out of control and maybe requiring folks to be responsible and Humane would help to change the way we breed and own animals. In America we kill an outrageous number of dogs and cats EVERY SINGLE DAY, because of irresponsible “money-monger” animal “breeders” and have very few requirements, allowing ignorant, greedy people to continue doing so…..If our society can’t even get a grip on dogs and cat overpopulation (and overpopulation of humans) how can we ever survive?!……. Sending everyone love and laughter! LET’S WORK TOGHETHER so everyone “wins”!
Times are not so tough that people need horse meat. God’s majestic animals whom seem to posses great wisdom and grace should be protected and honored. Shame on Montana! As a fourth generation Montanan I am ashamed at our state. Shame on the legislature and it’s morbid ideals! Shame on anyone whom doesn’t take care of their horses properly!
Well its long human tradition that human cultures see beasts of burden as multiple use animals out of necessity. Arabs eat camels, Laplanders eat reindeer, and an ancient Tibetan horse breed was used as a beast of burden, a pet, for milk and hides and served as the main course. Humans eat pigs and pigs are smarter than horses. Yum! Yum!
SHAME, SHAME ON MONTANA!!
MAN, ARE YOU HARD UP!!
YOUR LEGISLATORS MAKE ME WANT TO PUKE!!
DECENT HORSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA REALLY BOYCOTT YOU GOOD YEAH, AND STARTING WITH ME–I’M GETTING
THE WORD OUT NOW–NO DEALS IN/WITH MONTANA!!
Montana ~
A slaughter plant in your midst will do nothing for the local economy– the plant in Texas generated millions in income for its owners and $5 in local taxes; it will do nothing to feed the destitute and hungry, not in America, not abroad — the meat will be shipped overseas for human consumption by well-off gourmet palates of Europe and Japan, selling for $20/lb. A slaughter plant will foul your natural resources – – it happened in Texas, it’s happening in Canada. The Natural Valley Farms plant was closed, in part, due to their dumping blood in the local river, having piles of uncovered, uncomposted body remnants rotting the sun–fouling the environment and groundwater. It will foul your air with the odors of blood and death, due to stench of those rotting, uncovered corpses of the horses who died in the plant. It will foul your highways with trucks full of horses being shipped in for slaughter.
And what is the benefit? Perhaps a few dozen jobs for a few citizens. The money won’t be pumped into the local economy, it will go overseas, to the owners of the foreign-built plant. It’s a win-win situation for them, and a lose-lose situation for the state of Montana.
And so, I have to wonder, what was the benefit to the legislators who pushed for this Slaughter Bill? They were not following the wishes and demands of the citizens of Montana, because it seems that the majority of Montana’s citizens were AGAINST this bill passing. So, if the legislators weren’t fullfilling the desires and demands of their constituents, who interests were they working for? European businessmen? Hmmmmm, never mind the whole subject of the inhumane nature of the business that is horse-slaughter.
During the Reagan recession, I ate horse meat at Pike’s mkt in Seattle! Very tasty!! Horse owners today are dumping their horses along hwys!! Our goofy govt pays $750 to euthanize some of these horses, also BLM pays $27 MILLION to take care of some of them!!
Let’s quit listening to the efeete eastern liberals and help the poor of different countries!!
This is actually a HUMANITARIAN ISSUE!!
The gov of Nevada is being sued by cocktail waitress, ex-secretaries and is in a divorce procedure, or we might have one here , too.
You people who are against horse slaughter need to open your eyes to what is going on. I am a horse lover and have owed horses my whole life. My horses are a part of my daily life and are taken care of very well, but I realize there is a need for horse slaughter.
I live in western Nebraska where over 200 head of starving horses were ceased due to starvation. Over 70 head were found dead from starvation. I took a day off work to go help move and care for these horses, and it was heartbreaking. Within weeks of this incident another group of horses was found in Jay Em Wyoming dead or dying of starvation. This all within 100 miles of where I live, I can’t imagine how many starving horses are out there suffering.
I myself would rather see these horses humanely put down than starved to death. I realize the way horse slaughter has been done in the past probably isn’t humane, but have you ever wondered how it is done in Mexico. I am sure there is no compassion there. For the most part horses that end up at these plants are not productive anymore, and their owners choose not to take care of them for the rest of their lives, So does that mean they have to spend their last years suffering. May people who own horses make the commitment to take care of their friend until the end, but others don’t or can’t.
I myself could never eat horse meat, but who am I to tell my neighbor what he can eat!
All you people who eat horse meat, maybe you should find out whats in it Im a horse owner. We kill and slaughter the animals and in return they are killing us. A form of insanity dont you think.
For anyone out there that is ok with horse slaughter i just want to let you know what i think what you do is a horrible thing these loving amazing animals desirve better.But for people who beed beed beed all the time you bring them in this world by breeding and throw them out because there not perfect just think,Would you do that to your own children??? I use to have two awsome horses about 10 years ago. They were stollen from me,broke my heart still does to this day. It just so happens my friend of the time went to an action later that mounth and i get a call from her that my horses had just been sold to a slaughter house. i tried to everything,every penny i had to get them back. the end of this story is not a happy ending. You people really need to look deep down inside your selfs and realize what sick thing you do for money. How i really think about it is my horse is my child and them going to the slaughter house was like my kid getting kidnapped and raped and murdered IT KILLS me inside what people do…..GOD did not make these amazing creaters for our selfish want for money……
What if American companies opened horse processing plants for export? I for one think that that would be a lucrative business plan while also being able to know that it will be controlled, monitored, inspected and that all applicable research was completed to get the new state of the art ways to make it as humane as possible while still being held to the local and state laws. It would also keep the tax dollars in the US and would therefore help the economy. Probably a dream but it would be alot better than having the foreign countries come in…
I was a little wound up when i wrote last time. Yes i love horses and animals I am an equine vet tec. I do not belive in processing healthy and well rounded horses. Ones that are not so go its still if’y with me. If they stick to the rules and laws about animal rite ok maby. But there are stupid people out there and i wont mentchen what kind but i think we all know what i mean we have a ton out in california.. but as i have seen these people get these animals and don’t relise how much money they are going to cost you. I am just talking about just the basics here.. but then as the first few are not getting taken care of rite THEN THEY GET MORE!!! there animals end up STARVED,BEATEN,NO WATER, OVER WORKED…. but my point is that stupid people are what makes perfictly good horses in to trash with go to get processed there needs to be a bigger protection with horses………processing im fine with but ABUSE,NEGLECT,AND STEELING THEM AWAY FROM THERE GOOD HOMES…well thoes people i hope you BURN IN HELLL!!!!!
Do we really need to add another animal as a food source? We already eat cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, sharks, fish, sheep, & rabbits (that’s all I can think of right now). Personally, my stomach turns at the idea that we’d pave the road to horse slaughter. Will dogs be next? Because there are cultures that eat dogs. What about live monkeys? There are cultures who eat monkey brains while the monkey is still alive. Is this who we are as Americans? I sure hope not.
Response for LindaB – Think horse RESCUE, instead of horse slaughter.
Yep, Rochell, in addition, people eat frogs, all kinds of bugs, lizards, ( you should watch BIZARRE FOODS ON THE TRAVEL CHANNEL), one of my favorites is octopus, in “OH BROTHER , WHERE ART THOU” they eat a dead horse, and gophers!!
According to the ASSOCIATED PRESS, “the recession has increased the number of malnourished people by 100 million, to one BILLION!!
So, while you are eating high priced BLACK ANGUS at your local fast food , you can DENI THOSE LESS FORTUNATE A SOURCE OF PROTEIN!!
IS SQUAB A BABY PIDGEON??
Oops, I missed snakes, yep , in good old Oklahoma(?), they have rattle snake round ups, kill ’em, and have snake steaks, bbq, and burgers!!
In India, people are starving to death, swept up every morning, but their RELIGIOUS LEADERS FORBID EATING CATTLE, WHICH ROAM UN-MOLESTED IN THE STREETS!!
Heres’ the thing. Horses are not raised, bred, or medicated as if they were to be used as food. Honestly, if horses were farmed as cattle, sheep etc in a humane manner, my view would be different. But they are not. Horses should not be slaughtered for human consumption. There are no consistent regulations to monitor the industry. Horses who are suffering from medical problems should not be transported for the sake of slaughter, and should be immediately HUMANELY euthanized.
WOW, Montana passes horse processing bill, USofA House of Representitives passes $700,000,000 for homeless horses, and , now, 19 HORSES HAVE BEEN STOLEN AND TURNED INTO MEAT FOR DINNER IN FLORIDA!!
Beyond the fact that all you hypocritical meat eaters think it’s inhumane to slaughter horses, just like cows or any other animal there are several different ways to use byproducts of horses. I, not only being a rodeo competitor, but an avid hunter, enjoy all kinds of meats, except for the “cultural delicacies” of other ethnicities. Yet, that is fine, I will enjoy my foods, and you can enjoy yours. So now with that being said, let’s get away from the horse slaughter for human consumption topic for a second. I love my horses as if they were my children, and personally my competition horses will be put down in a compassionate manner and buried on the family ranch. But those that I’m not as close to will have to be disposed of in other ways. After they closed all routes of horse slaughter in the U.S. the result was very disgusting. What I got to see and deal with on a daily basis was sick, starving, old, wild, dangerous, horses running down highways, on government ground, and being dumped on private property. Most of the time in the middle of the night. People would dump these horses because they could no longer afford to keep them, because they were either out of grass or hay, and couldn’t afford more. So the people that got these horses were in the same position so they would turn them out to run down the highways or drop them off on someone else. So the vicious cycle begins and continues. This is an awesome sight so see! Let me tell you! So for all you PETA/animal rights activists, maybe you should experience first hand what happens. As for everyone else, how about posting a grammatically correct comment that actually convinces me you are smart enough to have any opinion at all!
I love my horses and rodeo but growing up on a wyoming ranch has taught me that horses are not a pet or a companion animal. Horses are a tool used for work. i have some horses that i absolutely love, some that are the best cow horses iv ever had, and a few good barrel horses but i wont spend money to have someone else kill my horse. Iv taken a few horses to the canner and it was a little harder with a good horse than a bronc but i still did what needed to be done. and if people are really that worried about medication, wait six months, it’ll be gone by then.
what the hell people? The slaughtering of horses is absolutley terrible!! As was mentioned in someone else’s comment, horses are not meant to be food!! They take all sorts of pills and medicines because their purpose just is not to feed people. I love horses to death and cant imagine how you people would be able to see a horse, perfect or imperfect, and slaughter it before it’s time was up. I had once envisioned myself owning a horse ranch in Montanna and that just doesn’t seem like a great idea if the legislature allows the killings of these beautiful creatures. Yes, the government spends a ton of money on them every year, but why? Because there are so few wild herds of horses that the people in the government who care about horses are doing what they can in order to save those few herds that are left. I personally don’t see anything wrong with trying to save a piece of our history. A very important part of it too. No one would have gotten anywhere without horses, the pony express? Um, the calvary? Hello people, they are still important to us today! Use your brains please!!!