Source: By Alan Bjerga as published in Bloomberg
“We’re getting ready to go,”
The lawyer for a New Mexico meat plant that wants to be the first to slaughter horses in the U.S. since 2007 says the facility may be operational in three weeks.
“We’re getting ready to go,” A. Blair Dunn, attorney for Valley Meat Co. in Roswell, New Mexico, said today in a phone interview. The plant may eventually have about 100 employees processing as many as 100 horses a day for export, he said.
The company is one of several that have applied to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to slaughter horses, a practice that ended in 2007 after Congress defunded government inspections at the facilities. That measure lapsed in 2011.
The USDA, which would regulate the plant, didn’t immediately comment on the lawyer’s assertion. The agency this month said that once the company meets technical requirements and inspector training has taken place, “the department will legally have no choice but to go forward with inspections.”
Four lawmakers this week introduced legislation that would ban horse-killing for human consumption in the U.S. and prohibit transporting the animals outside the country for slaughter. The USDA this month said it encouraged Congress to reinstate the ban on funding inspections.
The legislation was sponsored by Senators Mary Landrieu, Democrat of Louisiana, and Lindsay Graham, Republican of South Carolina, along with Representatives Patrick Meehan, Republican of Pennsylvania, and Jan Schakowsky, Democrat of Illinois.
European Co-Mingling
Supermarkets in Europe in recent weeks have pulled from their shelves products such as frozen burgers and lasagna after they were found to contain horse meat without proper labeling. Companies involved include Nestle SA (NESN) and Tesco PLC. (TSCO)
The prospect of revived horse slaughter in the U.S. has raised similar concern about co-mingling, even as producers say a potential equine-processing industry would be separate from the much larger beef, pork and poultry markets.
Valley Meat has been accused by the animal-welfare group Front Range Equine Rescue of allowing unsanitary conditions at the proposed horse-slaughter facility when it previously processed cattle…(CONTINUED)
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Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
THIS MUST BE STOPPED!
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Inspector training has taken place, what a lovely thought, they can’t wait to see this barbaric act and my God, they will get an eye full, this makes me so SICK to my stomach, literally
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I wrote to my representative and urged him to support the Safe Act and do all he could do to stop horse slaughter. He assured me that he is totally against slaughter of horses and inhumane treatment to all animals, but he is not on the Ag committee that is handling this legislation, but he will support it when it comes to the house. He is a republican and it was wonderful to have actually receive a reply back from him! I still have yet to hear from my senator, Chuck Shumer. Hopefully, he will support this bill too.
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In light of recent developments regarding horse meat passed off as beef and more chemical analysis being done … who do they think is going to buy this stuff.
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This is UNREAL that this is giving Steam to Valley Meats and it could end up being harder to stop it once they are operational. Just a guess??? This has to be stopped pretty quick.. I hope this won’t give Valley Meats the grandfathered in terms if he opens and the laws change. Plus the others out there getting ready and building up momentum…We need some prayers here for our horses…
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Reblogged this on Serenity's Musings.
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If this does indeed happen, I swear I will not so much as put the tip of a toe in that state again.
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The people did not want this. This was shoved through by connections and the feds not the people of NM!
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Do not let this plant open and begin slaughtering horses or sending them to be slaughtered! PROTECT these amazing intelligent beautiful animals from these people!!!!!
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EXPORT? For what? They are inedible! If they have inspections then the meat must be truly examined. Most of it will be toxic.
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With meat inspectors getting as much as 11 day vacations for other plants, why are they going to train them for the horse slaughter plants. The inspectors are spread thin now. I don’t even feel safe buying beef in a supermarket anymore.
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Why is Tesco listed below in the tags, they’re one of the companies involved in the horse meat scandal aren’t they?
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Both CA senators and my Congressman have written to me, and have pledged to vote against horse-slaughter. They do not want it reopening.
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A couple of things here about the attorney for Valley Meats and comments from USDA:
(1) This attorney is either a flat out liar or spin-master extraordinaire (I read another story and this guy flat out lied to the journalist);
.
(2) In the same story where the attorney for VM wasn’t telling the truth, the journalist was told by USDA that they could not comment on an on-going application process….so I don’t know where this USDA comment, “we gotta do what we gotta do” comes from; and,
(3) I do not know how they are processing applications for future HCHS facilities, training HCHS USDA inspectors and going to fund USDA inspectors without funds…..no funds have been appropriated or authorized for HCHS….defunding language removed? Yes. Monies given? NOPE!
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N O !!!!!!!!
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And round and round we go….I remember, back 2006, when the ban on horsemeat inspection passed, effectively stopping horse slaughter here (but never a ban on transport, or a ban on slaughter itself). I had a glowing sense of happiness & accomplishment, that humankind was progressing. Now – how many years later, how many horses in Mexico & Canada slaugtered, and slaughter making its way back here? I remember my father, a WWII infantry vet, now deceased for almost 15 yrs -stating, when he was older “Stop the Merry-Go-Round, I’m getting off.” Now, in my 50’s, I totally understand what he meant. ….heartbroken…..
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My thought is this guy is full of the same crap that cushions Slaughterhouse Sue’s seat. I hope that I am right. This doesn’t ring true at all to me. Doesn’t mean that I am letting up on contacting anyone though.
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Yes, the Valley Meats atty is a liar and spinmaster. Just hope no funds will be given for training new inspectors just when inspectors are being furloughed.
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We all need to drop a line to their local newspaper and the Governor of New Mexico. I thought that they were totally against the slaughterhouse. There should be some type of law or state legislation that would stop them from opening. Just can’t believe it…Those living in New Mexico should start protesting immediately with the deadly pictures provided by Animal Angels and other humane societies that have this on file. Also, have the terrible terrible tapes sent to local newspaper. Write notes to your local newspapers indicating what the impact will be to the environment. Again, get your documentation from Texas and Illinois. Our horses and other equines were not born to be killed to satisfy the sick people in Europe. I have a friend who routinely visits Italy and on his return last year he told of a community that was sickened by horse meat. When Dan visited his family the last time he informed them about tainted American horse meat was. In fact, the menus even included the statement that they were American Quarterhorse steaks. So is this what people like Valley Meat Company has instore for the Europeans.???
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Maybe some clarification is in order…Vallley Meats made application for the facility to be inspected. On Wednesday Dr. Elizabeth Hagen, Agriculture Under Secretary of Food Inspection, was questioned by Congressman Sam Farr D-CA, as to why with the money crunch of sequestration would the department be allowing Valley Meats of New Mexico to operate as the money for inspectors is slim to none. Dr. Hagen responded with a ‘let me be clear’ we have not passed any facility to begin operation. Rep. Farr then asked why they were processing the application to which Dr. Hagen responded, ‘we have to follow the law’ as set forth in the Federal Meat Inspection Act of 1906. The application havng been made they are required to act on it. Rep Farr then asked about the 80% opposition to slaughter to which Dr. Hagen concurred but noted they have to follow the law and only Congress can change the law.
We have to get the SAFE Act passed before the first horse is killed in New Mexico!
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Steve,
The US Senate are the politicians that has refused to pass any of the anti-horse slaughter legislation. The last bills the House of Representatives had 160 cosponsors the Senate only had about 24 or 25. The bills sat in committee and died. The members of the Senate are the ones that are given thousands of dollars in lobbyist donations from the racing industry and every big horse breeder out there to kill these bills. The last time I looked two years ago there was one lobbyist that had registered $ 50,000 to be used against the bills. And that was just one lobbyist. There were many more with deep pockets. If it was just the House to deal with horse slaughter bills would have been passed years ago.
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This whole situation is disgraceful. And this Dr. Hagen should be kicked in the you know what for even considering this application. This Valley Meats must be stopped NOW to show all the other states that it will not be allowed. We, the American taxpayer and horse lovers will fight it to the end — the end being that it will not EVER HAPPEN. New Mexico citizens, PROTEST LOUDLY AND DEMAND IT NOT GO FURTHER.
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This must be stopped people start sending e-mails, faxes, twitter and phone calls we need to unite to Stop horse slaughter in America.
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God save us all from these folks. They can promise all they want how they won’t contaminate the food chain. Do I trust them? Hell NO! I had no idea that the food chain was contaminated in Europe until this scandal broke. And then it scared the bejesus outta me. I know as surely as I’m sitting here typing that our food chain is going to be contaminated if it hasn’t already been.
Other than Jerry and RT I haven’t seen anyone test anything for horsemeat. Whoopy deal. A couple of tests. Not good enough. I want my stuff tested where I live.
There just isn’t going to be a market for this meat. I don’t care how you package it and wrap it and tell people how good horse meat is. People were beyond mortified that they may have eaten horse. Even Princess Kate is worried. That should be telling you something.
We’re not hearing from the pro people about how the EU rules will affect horse slaughter in this country post July. I’d be real interested if anyone has heard anything from that side on this.
Since we all know about Bute and that’s been dragged around so many times I’m sick of the word–how about a newer drug that might actually be worse. It’s frog juice. it’s suppose to be 40 times as powerful as morphine. And I’m not sure yet that USDA has any tests for this drug. You could be eating a horse that was given this drug and who knows what it’ll do to you down the road.
I sure Washington would get off their fat backsides and start working this stuff out. End the suffering. End all the fighting about bute. Close the borders to slaughter. Just simply end it. Make people accountable for the animals they own. Can’t afford it or you got bored–I’m sure the City where you live could use community service hours. Help feed the hungry. You could help to work off your board bill until your horse sells or you are able to properly rehome the animal.
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THIS CAN NOT HAPPEN!! ITS BARBERIC TO ME THIS IS HAPPINING!
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If this does actually go through, who do they think will want to work killing and butchering horses? Will they be making sure all 100 employees are legally in the US? Because those jobs usually go to illegals and ex-cons. What a way to add jobs, NM.
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How is this plant ready to be operational? Was it an old facility that was retrofitted?The NM governor should be ashamed to allow this in her state. Why can’t an injunction be filed to prohibit opening should it get to that point? I’ve contacted our GA state representatives & put the word out through some organizations here to contact reps to pass the SAFE act. Everyone needs to step up now & have their voices be heard.
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Id like to know how the USDA thinks they are going to certify horsemeat as being safe for consumption by humans? How are they going to get around the poisonous drugs in the meat? Are they going to lie? Pull one over on unsuspecting europeans? It is a fact, that almost all American horses are treated with unsafe drugs that are not to be used in animals meant for slaughter. Sure, they may have forms that kill buyers can fill out stating that the horse has not been given any drugs within a certain time, but those forms can be faked and those kill buyers have no idea what the horse has been given that they are selling due to the fact that they have only owned them for a short time and buy them from everywhere. And its not only the drugs that people have to be aware of when eating a horse, but there are many diseases that can contaminate the meat too. If USDA passes this meat for human consumption, then its almost a certainty that they would be approving poisoned meat!! Shame on them!! This country is opening itself up for a huge lawsuit when it can be proven that people are getting sick from meat from our American horses!! Isnt it about time that this government wisens up?
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“no money has been appropriated for horse meat inspections by the USDA. Th USDA neeeds more money to inspect food,Americans, eat”
RT you write, “That measured lapsed in 2011” If I remember correctly, Dec 2011 Obama, signed the ag bill that would allow horse slaughter to open in U.S.
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The USDA representative spoke in front of congress this past week that they need to go forward with inspections because congress lifted the ban. Therefore, congressional membership needs to act quickly to stop this. It’s getting down to the wire and Erin Burnett’s pro slaughter show is trying to tilt opinion toward it. I’m not getting any response from people I know, and it’s nerve wrecking.
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USDA is processing applications.
They have not found the money to fund inspections and Congress hasn’t given USDA money to fund a HCHS inspection program.
Could it happen? Sure.
Will HCHS return to the US? I doubt it….but we must keep tracking these trolls and challenging them at everyone of their steps….especially USDA and DOI regarding our wild equines.
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Congressman Steve Pearce represents Roswell NM should be urged to sign onto HR 1094. I read Sen. Tom Udall is on our side and is on the appropriations committee. Sen. Martin Heinrich – dunno. They should be encouraged to sign onto S 541.
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I hope the Europeans choke on the horse meat!!!
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