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On Sept. 7 the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 503, the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act by a 263-146 vote.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and Collin Peterson, D-Minn., presented an amendment that was supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), but that amendment was defeated 177 to 229. The amendment would have required the secretary of agriculture to certify that there are enough horse sanctuaries to care for unwanted horses before the law would take effect.

If enacted, H.R. 503 would close the three equine processing facilities currently operating in the United States, eliminating the only market for unwanted, unmanageable and neglected horses. A recent study funded by the Animal Welfare Council shows a ban on horse processing would reduce the value of all horses by $304 per head.

But livestock groups are concerned H.R. 503 could impact what happens to other animals.

"Farm Bureau opposes H.R. 503 because this legislation would set a bad precedent for the animal agricultural sector in general," said Adam Sharp, OFBF's director of national affairs.

Livestock groups are concerned passage of the bill would be the first to end the use of – and consumption of food derived from – animals, as well as impact commonly accepted farm practices such as on-farm euthanasia.

"It sets a dangerous precedent by banning a livestock product for reasons other than food safety or public health," said David White, executive director of the Ohio Livestock Coalition, of which OFBF is a member.

"Furthermore, it fails to address the real issue – what will happen to the tens of thousands of unwanted, neglected or abandoned horses? One of the leading advocates for this piece of legislation, the animal rights group the Humane Society of the United States, admits that there is inadequate funding or resources to care for these animals but has yet to produce a viable solution to this problem," White said.

In order for H.R. 503 to be implemented, the horse slaughter legislation must also be approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President. But, with a packed legislative agenda this fall, Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has stated that this bill is not a priority and is not likely to be considered.