New Mexico Approves First Horse Slaughterhouse in the U.S.

Federal officials have cleared the way for a return to domestic horse slaughter, granting a southeastern New Mexico company's application to convert its cattle facility into a horse processing plant. This marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over horse slaughter in the United States.

Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, N.M., has become the first operation in the nation licensed to process horses into meat since Congress effectively banned the practice seven years ago. The Department of Agriculture has indicated that similar permits may soon be granted to companies in Iowa and Missouri.

However, the company's attorney, Blair Dunn, remains skeptical about the plant's chances of opening soon, citing potential lawsuits from animal rights groups and the need for USDA inspectors to oversee operations. "This is very far from over," Dunn stated, expressing concerns over the USDA's pace in providing inspectors.

The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Valley Meat Co. against the USDA, accusing it of delaying the process due to the Obama administration's opposition to horse slaughter. The Justice Department has moved to dismiss the case, but Dunn plans to keep it open until all issues are resolved.

Valley Meat Co. aims to export horse meat to countries where it is consumed or used as animal feed. The plant would be the first horse slaughterhouse to operate in the U.S. since Congress reinstated funding for inspections in 2011, although the USDA has been slow to grant permits.

The USDA expects to issue permits next week for Rains Natural Meats in Missouri and Responsible Transportation in Iowa. "Since Congress has not yet acted to ban horse slaughter inspection, the agriculture department is legally required to issue a grant of inspection today to Valley Meats in Roswell, N.M., for equine slaughter," USDA spokeswoman Courtney Rowe explained.

The Obama administration's budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year eliminates funding for horse slaughterhouse inspections, effectively reinstating the ban. Both the House and Senate agriculture committees have endorsed proposals to cut the funding, but the timing of an agriculture appropriations bill remains uncertain.

The return to domestic horse slaughter has divided horse rescue and animal welfare groups, ranchers, politicians, and Indian tribes. The debate centers on the most humane way to address the country's horse overpopulation and the rising number of neglected and starving horses, particularly in the drought-stricken West.

The Humane Society of the United States and Front Range Equine Rescue plan to file lawsuits to block the resumption of horse slaughter. "The USDA's decision to start up domestic horse slaughter, while at the same time asking Congress to defund it, is bizarre and unwarranted," said Jonathan Lovvorn, senior vice president and chief counsel for animal protection litigation at the Humane Society.

Proponents of horse slaughter argue that it provides a humane, federally regulated option for horse owners who cannot afford to care for or euthanize their animals. They point to a 2011 report from the Government Accountability Office indicating increased horse abuse and abandonment since the 2006 ban.

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez opposes the creation of a horse slaughter industry in the state, while New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell calls for collaborative solutions to care for unwanted horses.

Originally Posted By Associated Press