Horse Slaughter in the United States

Horse Slaughter in the United States

Problem:

In 2006, the inspection of horse meat in the United States ceased, causing horse slaughter to come to an end. The closing of horse slaughter plants made the common person satisfied, however it was a nightmare for farmers, ranchers, and most horse owners.

Controversy:

Horse slaughter had become a growing area of concern around the turn of the century. As people began to use horses for sport and recreation instead of work, horses were looked at as a pet or companion animal more than livestock. How could someone possibly perform such an “inhumane and cruel act” on a pet? In addition, horse slaughter didn’t make sense, because people rarely consumed horsemeat in the United States anyways; therefore they felt there was no need.   

When horse slaughter was banned in 2006, farmers, ranchers, and horse owners were torn about what to do with their horses once they couldn’t afford feed or the horse no longer served its purpose. Do we bring them to Mexico or Canada to be slaughtered? Or do we let them starve?  The matter of banned horse slaughter caused many owners trouble, as their only logical options were to turn their horses loose or let them die of starvation; taking them to Mexico or Canada was not worth the expense. 

Solution:

In 2011, horse slaughter was reinstated in the United States. This, I feel, has been one of the best decisions President Obama has made in his entire time in office.  With the reopening of horse slaughter in the United States, there is a place for horses to go that are no longer of use to horse owners, preventing them from enduring unnecessary pain and suffering.

Misunderstanding/ Explanation:

The common misunderstanding in the horse slaughter issue is that although horses may seem like a pet, they are a form of livestock. Livestock are slaughtered for human consumption and various products. As horses become older, they are slowly decreasing in value to a point where they are no longer of use to the owner. When a horse reaches this point, the owner cannot justify spending the money on feed, veterinary, and everyday upkeep on the animal, so they sell them to the slaughterhouse. By selling the horse to the slaughterhouse, the owner is doing the right thing as it allows the horse to be free from any suffering or pain.  When slaughter takes place, it is done in a facility that allows for painless, efficient, and humane slaughter. These facilities have been remodeled numerous times to provide the best atmosphere for the animal, which helps them to feel comfortable up to the point of death. When the actual slaughter takes place, a captive bolt is shot into the forehead of the horse and renders the animal unconscious, causing them to feel no pain.

Impact:

Coming from an animal science student and a horse owner, I cannot express enough how grateful I am for the reopen of slaughter plants. Ultimately this will mean less free-range horses putting human life in danger, less inhumane treatment of horses, and an overall better flow of the horse market in the United States. The reopen of slaughter plants is in turn helping the United States economy as it creates a demand for all horses, young and old, and creates thousands of jobs for people with a background or interest in the horse market.