Are there horse slaughterhouses in the united states

Horse slaughter occurs worldwide, and horse meat is traded globally. In , 4. This protein supply annually generates U. The largest importers of horsemeat are Italy Most horse meat consumption occurs within the country of origin. Domestically, there is a demand for horsemeat from zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, as large carnivores require a diet of high-quality protein that is easily provided with horsemeat.

But the economics pale in comparison to the animal welfare and environmental disaster the U. Feral horse and burrow herds in the western U. This legislative action has reignited the conversation surrounding horse slaughter, animal welfare and land management, and suggests that reinstating horse slaughter for human consumption is needed.

Culling is a common wildlife management practice employed to control animal populations with the goal of maintaining a healthy ecosystem and animal population. This management practice is needed for horses in the U.

Horses are not native to North America and were introduced in There are 81, total feral horses and burros living on 40, square miles across 10 western U. These animals are managed by the Bureau of Land Management BLM , and part of responsible land management is population control.

The BLM will regularly adopt horses to private owners. In the last Congress, it had House co-sponsors. This legislative action has created an unwanted horse problem and may result in horses being abandoned, abused, or neglected. Horse owners have fewer options to dispose of horses that are no longer wanted because they are old, sick, unmanageable, or fail to meet expectations. Wildlife managers can no longer use horse slaughter as a means of non-native species population control and have resulted in the overpopulation of feral horses that are damaging the ecosystem — to their own detriment.

Sue Wallis. Wallis believed banning USDA-inspected horse slaughter was inhumane because it made too many horses worthless, causing too many to be released to starve in the wilderness. Horse meat production for human consumption totals about 1.

As of , that production required sending 4. The largest importers of horsemeat, according to Daigle are Italy September 15, August 6, July 2, July 1, May 19, Load more.

Featured Highlights. Urge Congress to Ban Horse Slaughter. Saving At-Risk Horses. China is one of the largest consumers of horse meat.

The last three horse slaughterhouses — two in Texas and one in Illinois — were closed in Opponents of horse slaughter fear that lifting the ban would result in those plants re-opening. The House Rules Committee had earlier refused to allow a separate vote on the provision.