Facts and Fallacies of Horse Slaughter Contains Graphic Content

Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chairman of the Agricultural Committee, is refusing to allow HR 857 – The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, to move through the legislative system. Although HR 857 clearly has 91% of the American publics backing and 224 co-sponsors, Congressman Goodlatte has been quoted as saying he will never let this bill out of his committee.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HORSE SLAUGHTER

How many horses are slaughtered in the US each year? According to the USDA, the two slaughter plants in Texas killed 50,564 horses in 2003 for human consumption and about twenty thousand horses were transported to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. Together, these numbers represent about 1% of the total number of horses in the U.S., and the entire industry is only.001% the size of the U.S. meat industry. It is entirely foreign owned, and pays no corporate taxes or export tariffs. The horse slaughter industry is economically insignificant.

What types of horses are being slaughtered? Arent these old, sick horses? According to 2001 field studies conducted by Temple Grandin, 70% of all horses at the slaughter plant were in good, fat, or obese condition; 72% were considered to be sound of limb; 84% were of average age; and 96% had no behavioral issues. Slaughter plants DO NOT want old, sick horses for obvious reasons. Horses at Dallas Crown Slaughter Facility

Isnt the transport of horses to slaughter regulated by the federal government? Yes, and it is currently legal to transport horses in low clearance double decker cattle trailers; legal to transport horses more than 24 hours without food, water or rest; and legal to transport horses without separating the stallions from the mares and foals. Approximately 30% of horses are injured from fighting and transportation. Double Decker Trailer

How are horses killed at the slaughter plant? According to federal law, horses must be rendered unconscious prior to slaughter, usually by captive bolt. However, some are improperly stunned, even with repeated blows, and are still conscious when shackled, hoisted by a rear leg, and having their throat slit. The USDA specifies that 10% live vivisection is acceptable! With their long necks and aversion to anything approaching their foreheads, many horses require multiple strikes.

If horses arent slaughtered, where will all the unwanted horses go? The annual number of horses slaughtered in the US dropped from over 300,000 in the 1990s to less than 50,000 in 2003, with no special infrastructure needed to absorb the thousands of unwanted horses that were not slaughtered. Horses are being kept longer, sold to others, humanely euthanized, or donated to retirement and rescue facilities. The surplus horse population is a myth.

Wont banning horse slaughter mean more cases of horse abuse and neglect? No. In fact, both the Hooved Animal Humane Society (HAHS) and the Illinois Department of Agriculture re- ported that following the burning of the only slaughter plant in the region, abuse cases quit rising and went down between 2002 and California banned horse slaughter in 1998, since that time horse theft has dropped 34% and cruelty reports have not increased (Dr. Carolyn Stull). Texas, which had the only two slaughter plants in 2003, had among the nations highest rates of cruelty and theft. The conclusion is clear, slaughter causes abuse and theft!

The following pages are graphic in content, yet must be viewed to allow us to commit to putting an end to this abuse.

Enduring the pain of what they have been taught to trust

Bob Goodlatte believes this is in the best interest of the district, the nation, and even, horses.

$20.00 per pound abroad, does not feed the hungry, slaughter houses cater to the rich

Over 1,200 horses per week are lost to this industry

Never in the history of mankind has one animal done so much, for so little in return, as the horse.

The Economic Impact of the Horse Industry in the United States

There are 6.9 million horses in the US. 725,000 are involved in racing and race horse breeding, while 1,974,000 are used in showing and 2,970,000 are used in recreation. 1,262,000 are used in other activities, such as farm and ranch, rodeo, polo, police work, etc. 7.1 million people are involved in the horse industry as owners, service providers, employees and volunteers. 3.6 million are involved in showing and 4.3 million in recreation. 1.9 million people own horses.

While the median income for Americans is $36,000, the median income for horse owners is $60,000. The horse industry directly produces goods and services of $25.3 BILLION and has a total impact of $112.1 BILLION on the US gross domestic product. This is greater than the motion picture industry, railroad transportation and tobacco product manufacturing industries.

My own stats: The average horse accounts for $271 in taxes to federal, state and local governments. Deep Thought - Compare these stats to the GDP and tax income of a horse delivered to one of the two Texas slaughterhouses. Based on that answer, ask yourself - Is it better for the economy to slaughter a healthy horse or keep it alive and productive?

(Hint - if the 42,600 horses slaughtered last year were instead introduced back into the economy, the tax base would have increased by $11.4 million. The GDP would have increased by $69.2 million.) Then ask yourself - Why are the slaughterhouses permitted to stay open? Things just don't add up, do they? Jerry Finch Habitat for Horses A Nonprofit Growth and Learning Center Hitchcock, Texas

Support HR 857 Help Save Americas Horses

Reference Sites:

Slide Show Presented by Connie Carmichael July 5, 2004 in Affiliation with Habitat for Horses and Lone Star Equine Rescue Special Thanks To: J. Holland J. Caramante L. Barr