Menu

Animal activists didn’t waste any time urging lawmakers to bring back legislation that would ban horse slaughter.

In January, a bill to ban horse slaughter nationwide was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives along with companion legislation in the Senate. Last year the House passed legislation that would ban "the shipping, transporting, moving, delivering, receiving, possessing, purchasing, selling or donation of horses" for the purpose of human consumption. The Senate failed to vote on the bill before adjourning.

Now the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act is back before Congress, setting a dangerous precedent by banning a livestock product for reasons other than food safety or public health, according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman.

"Banning the processing of horses is unprecedented because this ban is based on social reasons and not scientific or health safety reasons. It could have a profound effect on the livestock industry if passed," said Adam Sharp, Ohio Farm Bureau’s senior director of national and regulatory affairs.

While the bill seeks to stop the processing of horse meat for human consumption, it’s clear that those who support the bill want to stop all horse slaughter, Stallman said.

"This legislation is deceivingly packaged to exploit our nation’s love for horses to further an extreme anti-meat, animal rights agenda," he said.

Several Ohio members of Congress support the legislation, and Ohio Farm Bureau will be working hard to inform them about the consequences of passing the bill.

"I think it’s unfortunate that several Ohio members of Congress who are considered friends of agriculture support this legislation, which has the clear aim of disrupting agriculture," Sharp said.

U.S. farmers already practice the humane treatment of animals, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects the three plants that process horses. Sharp said the proposed legislation doesn’t address what should be done with unwanted or unmanageable horses, possibly leading to neglect of the animals. About 80,000 horses are processed each year, and there won’t be enough rescue facilities to take care of unwanted horses if the bill passes, Sharp said. Virtually all horsemeat processed in the U.S. is shipped to overseas markets.The United States would need an additional 2,700 rescue facilities if the legislation passes, said Kelli Ludlum, AFBF livestock policy specialist.