“The bill basically says that it would be illegal to transport a horse for slaughter in the United States.”
The bill doesn't’t shut down slaughter plants; it cuts off their supply of horses.
“There are approximately between 60,000 and 120,000 horses that are slaughtered in the United States every year.”
“They have no home. People don’t want them anymore. Outlaws, there are many horses that are dangerous to have.”
Texas A&M professor and veterinarian Bonnie Beaver says that the vast majority of veterinarians and major horse groups oppose this bill.
“The concern is for the humane care of the horse and the humane death of the horse. What happens to the tissue afterwords, that is not something we worry about.”
Horse rescue facilities are very limited.
“And the total capacity at this point in time is 6000 horses. Where will you put 60,000 horses or more every single year?”
Dr. Beaver says that charges that slaughter procedures are inhumane are simply not true.
“It’s instantaneous death for these animals. So their death is humane. Their care is humane while they’re alive instead allowing them to suffer and exist for years with no insurance of adequate care.”
The flip side of the argument is emotional.
“There are a lot of wealthy individuals behind that and it sounds good, people shouldn't’t eat horse meat, but they’re not considering what’s going to happen to those horses if they are not processed.”
I’m Joe Brown, looking at Brazos Valley agriculture, From the Ground Up.