New Mexico succeeds in barring horse slaughter operation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

New Mexico succeeds in barring horse slaughter operation

Valley Meat had sought to convert Roswell cattle processing plant to slaughter horses

By Susan Montoya Bryan
The Associated Press

Posted: 02/05/2016 01:04:48 PM MST1 Comment | Updated: about 3 hours ago

ALBUQUERQUE, n.m. — New Mexico has succeeded in a lengthy legal battle aimed at barring a horse slaughter operation from opening in the state.

A state District Court judge in Santa Fe granted an order late Thursday that finalizes a settlement reached with the attorney general's office, animal advocates, Valley Meat Co. and other associated businesses.

Valley Meat had sought to convert its cattle processing plant in Roswell to the slaughtering of horses, but the state filed a lawsuit in 2013 in hopes of stopping those plans, saying such an operation would violate New Mexico's environmental and food safety laws.

Bruce Wagman, an attorney for the horse advocacy group Front Range Equine Rescue, said Friday that the order and previous rulings from the judge effectively end any chance of a horse slaughter operation opening in New Mexico.


Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_29481059/new-mexico-succeeds-barring-horse-slaughter-operation

[Herman4747]

1. Be Very Kind & Nice to Horsies!! n/t

[awoke_in_2003]

2. What is the difference...

between slaughtering cows and slaughtering horses? I'm sorry, I cannot understand what makes a horse more important than a cow.

on edit: And to those vegan members out that oppose both, I respect your consistency.

[restorefreedom]

3. i am an abolitionist vegan

and i am very happy that valley was defeated. i hope they do not resume slaughtering cows there.

i understand your point about there not really being a difference between horses and cows. certainly not in level of intelligence or sensitivity. its one of perception. we have been conditioned in this country to believe cows are for eating, horses are for riding, dogs are companions, etc. it will probably be a long time before people start moving en masse towards veg/veganism, and it will likely be due to necessity from climate change and resource needs rather than concern for cows, at least for most.

i have worked and volunteered in animal rescue and rights causes for a long long time. we take every victory we can get, celebrate the lives saved and move on to the next life to try and save. and in the meantime, accept that change will be slow and incremental. its not ideal for someone like me (an idealist), but i have managed to stay sane by trying to be grateful for every victory against the profit death machine.

others may of course, have a different take. hope that sheds a little more light into the thought process of some of us

[awoke_in_2003]

4. Thank you for responding

Like I said, I respect the vegan position on this because of the consistency. I don't know whether I will ever eliminate all meat, but I have cut it in half.

[restorefreedom]

5. thanks for YOUR initial comment. and congrats

on the meat halvsies! my long time meat eating parents have cut way back...i am happily stunned!

[Drahthaardogs]

6. There is none

but I wonder if it is all emotional and cultural in America or just taste. I love lamb, but I know so many Americans who will not eat it. They say it is "gamey", which it is not. It simply tastes like lamb. Goat is also very good, italian capretto or mexican cabritto are wonderful. Go to your local indian restaurant that has a buffet lunch. Watch people avoid the goat curry like the plague.

Bal'e di Aso and sautissa ed bra are from donkey and horse in northern italy. Both are very very good, but not something most visiting Americans will eat.

[awoke_in_2003]

9. As far as lamb goes

Americans haven't much exposure. Cattle ranchers saw sheep as a threat, and they were absolutely ruthless to anyone who tried to keep them. If I could have only one meat, it would be lamb.

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. I agree

The difference is that plenty of people look upon horses as pets rather than livestock. We don't eat horse meat here, so it is exported to places that do.

[Throd]

7. So they just get shipped to Mexico for slaughter instead.