Oklahoma OKs bill to allow horse slaughterhouses

A bill expected to be signed by Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin would allow horse slaughterhouses in the state, ending a 50-year ban. "The bill would ban consumption of horsemeat in Oklahoma but allow it to be shipped out of the country," reports Barbara Hoberock for the Tulsa World. "Critics said the measure is not necessary and is inhumane. Supporters said it was an issue about private property rights. They say the measure is needed to deal with horses that are no longer useful and those that are abandoned."

No horsemeat processing plants have operated in the U.S. since 2007, when Congress cut off money for inspections. That has been restored, but the industry has not returned, despite widespread problems with abandoned or abused horses during teh economic downturn. Critics say the lack of slaughter plants has depressed horse prices by removing the bottom of the market. (Photo by Al Cross, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues) The ASPCA reports that the recently closed slaughterhouses, "all foreign-owned, killed and processed more than 90,000 horses for human consumption. Americans by and large do not eat horsemeat, so it was shipped overseas to countries like France, Belgium and Japan." Horse slaughter plants also operate in Canada.

Sen. Eddie Fields, who co-authored the measure said, even if the bill is signed into law, "It could be three years before a horse processing plant could be operating in the state," reports Michael McNutt for The Daily Oklahoman. An editorial in The Oklahoman notes that "An estimated 18,000 horses were shipped from Oklahoma to Mexico for slaughter last year; up to two-thirds of horses sold at auction may already go to slaughter." The editorial, though, takes a stand against the proposal. "From a public relations standpoint, Oklahomans should be hesitant to become the first state to actually revive horse slaughter. Image matters. The economic impact of horse slaughter would be minimal; its effect on the state's reputation could be greater."

Rep. Skye McNiel

Rep. Skye McNiel, who co-authored the bill, said, "The fact is, 46 other states currently do not ban this practice. We have a broad, bipartisan level of support for this bill, especially among rural Oklahomans who see this problem up close,"Hoberock reports. Since the bill passed McNiel has received threats and harassment and has been assigned additional security, Hoberock and Randy Krehbiel report.