Victory for Animal Lovers: Texas allows horse slaughtering for human consumption

The reason it's a vicotry for animal lovers is because in other countries where it's legal to slaughter horses for human consumption, the process is much more inhumane.

April 23, 2003, 4:25PM
House OKs slaughter of Texas horses for food
Associated Press

AUSTIN - A bill that would make it legal to slaughter horses in Texas for human consumption outside the United States was preliminarily adopted in the House today.

Currently, no law prohibits horse slaughtering, but it is illegal to sale horsemeat for human consumption.

"We have a population of over a million horses in Texas and very few end up in slaughterhouses," said Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell, the bill's sponsor. "But, this is one avenue that needs to remain open."

The legislation, approved by a vote of 83-53, would make it legal for Texas' two horse slaughterhouses -- believed to be the only such facilities in the country -- to export horse meat overseas for human consumption.

Supporters of the measure say the measure would prevent horse owners from taking horses out of the country for less-humane, unregulated slaughtering.

"I myself would not take a horse to a slaughterhouse and I find horse slaughtering repugnant," said Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, who breeds horses. But, she said she supported the bill in an effort to prevent inhumane horse slaughtering.

"We are making sure horses are treated humanely," said Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown. "If we shut these down, they'll go somewhere else, in another country."

The bill adopted Wednesday also requires the operator of a livestock market to post a sign in a prominent place acknowledging that the animal may go to slaughter.

The two slaughterhouses in Texas are operated in Tarrant and Kaufman counties.

If given final approval by the House, likely Thursday, and adopted by the Senate, the bill would become effective Sept. 1.

A 2002 opinion by then-Attorney General John Cornyn prohibits the processing, possession, sale, or transportation of horsemeat for sale for human consumption, even if the human consumption occurs in foreign countries.