Court rules slaughter of horses for human consumption in U.S. can resume

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/04/on-menu-horse-meat/​

WASHINGTON – The slaughter of horses for human consumption could legally resume in the United States as early as this week following a decision by a New Mexico judge who dismissed a push by animal rights groups to stop the practice.

U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo in New Mexico threw out a lawsuit Friday by The Humane Society of the United States and other animal protection groups that alleged the Department of Agriculture failed to conduct environmental studies when it issued permits to Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, N.M., and an Iowa company to slaughter horses for human consumption.
---
In a statement following Friday’s dismissal, The Humane Society pledged that it would “not only appeal the decision, but also work with the states to block the plants from opening in Iowa, Missouri and New Mexico and step up its efforts in Congress to stop the slaughter of American horses.”

Normally I'm all for free enterprise and against restraint of trade, but not in this case. As one of my all-time favorite TV characters said:

“It’s a tragedy people have to eat horses. They’re beautiful animals. You ever take a peek at a cow or a pig? They’re ugly. We’re doing them a favor by eating ‘em. Saves ‘em the agony of looking at their reflections in the trough every morning. But a horse, that’s a noble beast. Why, in the cavalry, a man’s steed was his best friend, a real companion. Where do people get off making pork chops out of them?”

Col. Sherman T. Potter, Commander, 4077th "M*A*S*H"​

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/11/04/on-menu-horse-meat/​

Normally I'm all for free enterprise and against restraint of trade, but not in this case. As one of my all-time favorite TV characters said:

I'm one of those animal advocates and I canpaign against horse slaughter...to me they are noble animals and friends. Next we will be eating dogs.

 

[InTheLight]

But is the ruling too late to save Sizzler steak houses?

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

But is the ruling too late to save Sizzler steak houses?

I think I just heard the Sizzler board of directors collectively utter "OUCH!!"

 

[Revmitchell]

These are not horses that are normally healthy viable and then slaughtered purely for their meat. There are any number of reasons a horse has to be put down. And the truth is they get shot and buried on the back 40 or hauled to Canada. So these horse will get put down anyway and do on a regular basis. As a horse owner there is no bigger fan of horses. But the issue with horse slaughter is way over blown and unnecessary. I can assure you those horse will die one way or another.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

These are not horses that are normally healthy viable and then slaughtered purely for their meat. There are any number of reasons a horse has to be put down. And the truth is they get shot and buried on the back 40 or hauled to Canada. So these horse will get put down anyway and do on a regular basis. As a horse owner there is no bigger fan of horses. But the issue with horse slaughter is way over blown and unnecessary. I can assure you those horse will die one way or another.

Sure they will. Do you really want unhealthy horses being put down, butchered, and put into our food supply? Downer cattle are not allowed to be processed for food product. Why should horses?

 

[Revmitchell]

Sure they will. Do you really want unhealthy horses being put down, butchered, and put into our food supply? Downer cattle are not allowed to be processed for food product. Why should horses?

It depends on what the issue is. The word healthy can be an entirely different thing for horses than it is for cattle. Cattle do not get ridden and break legs, they do not suffer from colic they way horses do, there are a number of different issues with horses that would make it necessary to put them down but would not effect the quality of the other uses for their carcass.

Comparing them with cows makes a poor comparison.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

It depends on what the issue is. The word healthy can be an entirely different thing for horses than it is for cattle. Cattle do not get ridden and break legs, they do not suffer from colic they way horses do, there are a number of different issues with horses that would make it necessary to put them down but would not effect the quality of the other uses for their carcass.

Comparing them with cows makes a poor comparison.

I grew up on a farm with horses. Had a fiesty ride of my own. I guess thinking of having someone eat him just ticks me off. I agree with Col Potter.

 

[Revmitchell]

I grew up on a farm with horses. Had a fiesty ride of my own. I guess thinking of having someone eat him just ticks me off. I agree with Col Potter.

Horses and cattle are as much a business as it is anything else. People who are in those industries love those animals dearly. But making use of every resource and dollar is the only way to stay a float. It is not profitable to slaughter healthy horses but when a horse gets put down being able to gain back some of the money that was invested in that animal is just good business. The alternative is to let it just rott out back somewhere. Government regs just make business tough.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

Horses and cattle are as much a business as it is anything else. People who are in those industries love those animals dearly. But making use of every resource and dollar is the only way to stay a float. It is not profitable to slaughter healthy horses but when a horse gets put down being able to gain back some of the money that was invested in that animal is just good business. The alternative is to let it just rott out back somewhere. Government regs just make business tough.

That's what rendering plants are for.

 

[Revmitchell]

That's what rendering plants are for.

ok not much difference there.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

ok not much difference there.

True. But I won't wind up eating the processed product from a rendering plant. To me, for horses, that's a better answer.

 

[Revmitchell]

True. But I won't wind up eating the processed product from a rendering plant. To me, for horses, that's a better answer.

I do not look to eat any horse meat but if it can be used in the same way a cow or pig is or even deer then it is hard to show any difference outside of personal preference.

 

[thisnumbersdisconnected]

UPDATE: It's been reversed

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...hter-for-human-consumption/?intcmp=latestnews​

A federal appeals court has temporarily put the brakes on plans to resume horse slaughter for human consumption in the U.S., after a New Mexico judge last week dismissed a push by animal rights groups to stop the practice.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver late Monday issued a temporary injunction barring the Department of Agriculture from inspecting the plants.

The appeal was expedited by the Humane Society, which is determined to prevent slaughter houses dedicated to processing horse meat from opening in New Mexico, Iowa and Missouri.

 

[annsni]

I'm so glad! The shutting of the slaughter facilities in the US was such a detriment to the horse world. Horses showing up suddenly on people's property, in people's trailers, dead out in the desert - it was just BAD.

I love horses - horse was my first word. If I could bring Whirl to my house and have him sit in my lap, I think we'd both be happy. But well regulated slaughter is a good thing. I'm not sure if people know but slaughter of US horses have still been going on but with the horses shipped to Canada or Mexico. But the horses had a long trip ahead of them. There will be unwanted horses, no question about it. Better to be humanely euthed than to be thrown out into the desert to fend for themselves!

 

[Revmitchell]

I'm so glad! The shutting of the slaughter facilities in the US was such a detriment to the horse world. Horses showing up suddenly on people's property, in people's trailers, dead out in the desert - it was just BAD.

I love horses - horse was my first word. If I could bring Whirl to my house and have him sit in my lap, I think we'd both be happy. But well regulated slaughter is a good thing. I'm not sure if people know but slaughter of US horses have still been going on but with the horses shipped to Canada or Mexico. But the horses had a long trip ahead of them. There will be unwanted horses, no question about it. Better to be humanely euthed than to be thrown out into the desert to fend for themselves!

I guess the federal appeals court put another stop to it.

 

[saturneptune]

But is the ruling too late to save Sizzler steak houses?

I believe McDonald's ignored the ban.

 

[saturneptune]

Wilburrrrrr............why are you coming at me with that cleaver?