Future uncertain for horse-slaughtering plant
SPRINGFIELD -- Cavel International, a horse-slaughtering plant in DeKalb that reopened about a week ago, may have to close again due to legislation passed in the Illinois Senate Wednesday.
The plant was closed this spring after a court ruling prohibited the U.S. Department of Agriculture from charging the Belgian company to inspect its meat.
Federal law forbids the sale of horse meat for human consumption in the United States. Meat from horses slaughtered by Cavel is sold overseas, especially in Europe.
House Bill 1711, which would ban the sale of horse meat in Illinois for human consumption, passed the House April 18. It was approved in the Senate by a vote of 39-16.
Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Illinois is the only state in the nation that continues to allow horses to be slaughtered for food.
"Horses are clearly recreational, companion animals," Cullerton said. "They are not livestock raised for food."
He said horses are raised and taxed as recreational and sport animals, and discontinuing their slaughter is the humane thing to do.
Sen. Bradley Burzynski, R-Clare, who represents DeKalb, disagreed, saying Cavel International is providing a valuable service.
"In the state of Illinois, we can't dispose of that horse on our own property anymore," Burzynski said, arguing that Cavel is a humane solution for disposing of an animal at the end of its life.
"People have made this into an animal-rights issue, which I don't believe is really applicable here."
It's an economic issue, he said, and the plant in DeKalb would have to close if the governor signs the legislation.
"This bill costs money," Burzynski said. "It takes money out of the state of Illinois. It takes money out of the city of DeKalb."
James Tucker, general manager of the plant, said Cavel International employs 55 people in DeKalb, all of whom would lose their jobs if the business closes. And the Illinois economy would lose $30 million in foreign trade revenue, he said.
Cullerton said he was sure the plant could reopen slaughtering livestock, but Burzynski and Tucker said that's just not true.
"It's my opinion Sen. Cullerton just doesn't understand agriculture from that standpoint," Burzynski said.
The plant was closed this spring after a court ruling prohibited the U.S. Department of Agriculture from charging the Belgian company to inspect its meat.
Federal law forbids the sale of horse meat for human consumption in the United States. Meat from horses slaughtered by Cavel is sold overseas, especially in Europe.
House Bill 1711, which would ban the sale of horse meat in Illinois for human consumption, passed the House April 18. It was approved in the Senate by a vote of 39-16.
Sen. John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said Illinois is the only state in the nation that continues to allow horses to be slaughtered for food.
"Horses are clearly recreational, companion animals," Cullerton said. "They are not livestock raised for food."
He said horses are raised and taxed as recreational and sport animals, and discontinuing their slaughter is the humane thing to do.
Sen. Bradley Burzynski, R-Clare, who represents DeKalb, disagreed, saying Cavel International is providing a valuable service.
"In the state of Illinois, we can't dispose of that horse on our own property anymore," Burzynski said, arguing that Cavel is a humane solution for disposing of an animal at the end of its life.
"People have made this into an animal-rights issue, which I don't believe is really applicable here."
It's an economic issue, he said, and the plant in DeKalb would have to close if the governor signs the legislation.
"This bill costs money," Burzynski said. "It takes money out of the state of Illinois. It takes money out of the city of DeKalb."
James Tucker, general manager of the plant, said Cavel International employs 55 people in DeKalb, all of whom would lose their jobs if the business closes. And the Illinois economy would lose $30 million in foreign trade revenue, he said.
Cullerton said he was sure the plant could reopen slaughtering livestock, but Burzynski and Tucker said that's just not true.
"It's my opinion Sen. Cullerton just doesn't understand agriculture from that standpoint," Burzynski said.
0
-
I don't see what's the big deal.
Horse meat.
Cow meat.
Hog meat.
Kangaroo meat.
Whatever.0 -
I know I am going to get slammed for saying this BUT
Horse are like family, I had one when I was growing
up, Nice quater horse, not a pet, but a companion.
there are horse people out there that feel the same.0 -
We have horses.
I would eat them if I was hungry enough.
The Wilson Ladies would not.
They are not overly bright.
Doug
* edited for spelling0 -
get some peanut butter and jelly and leave the horses alone 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Kimbercolt
I know I am going to get slammed for saying this BUT
Horse are like family, I had one when I was growing
up, Nice quater horse, not a pet, but a companion.
there are horse people out there that feel the same.
I am sure there are some Aussies who feel the same way about their sheep..
It is an animal, get over it.0 -
Flipping tree huggers. They are ANIMALS not people.
I suppose cattle will be next.
I would order up a nice horse ribeye today if I could.0 -
quote:Originally posted by richbug
quote:Originally posted by Kimbercolt
I know I am going to get slammed for saying this BUT
Horse are like family, I had one when I was growing
up, Nice quater horse, not a pet, but a companion.
there are horse people out there that feel the same.
I am sure there are some Aussies who feel the same way about their sheep..
It is an animal, get over it.
Yeah but only Catherine the Great would want to have sex with a horse... whereas I bet a lot more Aussies are thinking those sheep look mighty fine.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
Flipping tree huggers. They are ANIMALS not people.
I suppose cattle will be next.
I would order up a nice horse ribeye today if I could.
As a former horse owner, I wouldn't.
But, I don't begrudge you if you wanted one.
Saying that, what if they were slaughtering dogs for meat?0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
Flipping tree huggers. They are ANIMALS not people.
I suppose cattle will be next.
I would order up a nice horse ribeye today if I could.
As a former horse owner, I wouldn't.
But, I don't begrudge you if you wanted one.
Saying that, what if they were slaughtering dogs for meat?
I have lived in the far east and have eaten dog meat. It is good meat. Dog is also a traditional dish in America. I would sure as hell rather eat dog than a squirrel.0 -
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
, what if they were slaughtering dogs for meat?
Koreans and other Asians do it all the time.
Animals, including humans, are just organic matter that can be consumed for nutritional sustenance. What makes it OK to eat one animal and not another? Just because some kind of relationship has been established with a certain animal should not place that animal in a catagory labeled as unsuitable for human consumption.
What about little Johnnys prize winning 4H steer? He has raised that steer from calving and fed and groomed it for months. It wins a prize at the 4H fair, and then is sold to the highest bidder to be slaughtered and eaten. Is this just a ritual to harden little Johnny to the cold facts of farm and/or ranch life?
I'd eat horse meat, dog meat, or cat meat without hesitation. I'd eat anything if my life depended upon it, including, dare I say, human meat.0 -
It is hard for me to sit here and say what I would or wouldn't do if I were literally starving.
I would like to think that I would rather die than eat human meat.0 -
Horses that are being sold for meat are not your standard "backyard pet", they are the crips, gimps and screws (horsemans term for a dangerious horse). Go to any horse auction, the minimum price any horse will sell for is determined by the market price of meat (HC meat sells for more than DF meat).
Want to go broke to save a horse? Go buy a 3yr old T-bread with bad knees, no brain and a "I'm going to kill you attitude", or get a mal-conformed inbread wild horse that will jump a 6' fence and go out of it's way to maim/kill anyone that get's within range, and have fun watching your money flow away at the rate of $2-5 a day just in feed, plus barns, fences, vet bills, farrier fees etc for the next 30 years. BTW, good luck finding a vet or farrier that will risk their life to work on the brainless man killer in your back yard.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Kimbercolt
I know I am going to get slammed for saying this BUT
Horse are like family, I had one when I was growing
up, Nice quater horse, not a pet, but a companion.
there are horse people out there that feel the same.
There are some. And there are others like me. I grew up with horses had some til a few years ago. Dad still has about 30 head. We've taken horses to Dekalb. Like the guy that mentioned the lowest auction price. We've bought them "nut case" horses for $150-200. Now take a load up there when they "were" payin .50/ lbs. 1000 lbs horse "could" profit you $300/horse. Not sure what they pay now. Been a year or 2 since we've taken any. Due to the issues in Illinois Most the meat buyers have moved closer to the other plant. I wish the people sittin behind the desk makin these laws would come see what its all about. How do we dispose of them now. Cant bury them? What a waste of good meat.0 -
Some people have pet cows. I knew a girl that had a pet deer that her dad rescued as a fawn. It got into the sweet feed and ate itself to death but that's another story.
Who the hell is the state to say what animal is and is not moral to eat? Oh yeah... Obama is from Illinois. Barak Hussein Obama. I forgot the Muslims want to tell us what we can and can't eat.0 -
I just get super sad when I think about a horse being slaughtered....but there is no real REASON for it. I just do. 0 -
...We take it for granted that rabbits are raised by the millions to be eaten, yet there are thousands of people with pet rabbits. We think of Guinea pigs as cuddly pets, but in Peru, they're just protein. Raised in cages, well cared for, and then eaten.
...I'm of the opinion that all potential food sources should be utilized. It's up to the individual to decide what they draw the line at. Horses? Slugs? Rats? Zebras? I'm not speaking of a desperate, starving, eat it or die situation. If the food source is in abundance, and you have no qualms about eating it, nobody should tell you that you're depraved for using what your God (or Darwin's theory) has provided.
...The last time that horsemeat/dogfood came up, I got slammed. That's OK with me. I grew up with a horse and got pretty attached to some of my pigs. You have to keep your perspective.0 -
"House Bill 1711, which would ban the sale of horse meat in Illinois for human consumption"
Do what China would do....kill 'em...can 'em. Ship it overseas as 'dog food' to be relabled in some other country.0 -
What a minute. I thought the USDA banned the sale of horse meat for human consumption with in the states. I thought this place was exporting all of the meat.
I never owned a horse. Granpa hated horses. Dad hates horse. I have no predujices towards horse. I just don't care one way or the other.
Jeep goes in reverse and eats less hay.
A horse is a hoofed animal, like cattle, hogs and sheep. Horses don't eat their cud, like hogs. SO I guess horse meat is off limits to our Jewish friends.
The other argument could be:
Jesus didn't eat horse. If you love Jesus you won't eat horse either.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
What a minute. I thought the USDA banned the sale of horse meat for human consumption with in the states. I thought this place was exporting all of the meat.
I never owned a horse. Granpa hated horses. Dad hates horse. I have no predujices towards horse. I just don't care one way or the other.
Good point, and I bet that, if they pass it, that it will be overturned as it is infringing on international trade agreements.
I've owned a total of 5 horses, trained quite a few more 2yr olds for trail riding, and had a few die with their head in my lap. It's never easy even if it is necessory.
That said, I've been around a few screws that are/would be better off in a can.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
quote:Originally posted by spanielsells
quote:Originally posted by Warpig883
Flipping tree huggers. They are ANIMALS not people.
I suppose cattle will be next.
I would order up a nice horse ribeye today if I could.
As a former horse owner, I wouldn't.
But, I don't begrudge you if you wanted one.
Saying that, what if they were slaughtering dogs for meat?
I have lived in the far east and have eaten dog meat. It is good meat. Dog is also a traditional dish in America. I would sure as hell rather eat dog than a squirrel.
U gotta be kiddin' me... Squirrel is one of the tastiest critters a person can eat!!Especaily if you know the best ways to cook it !!
Jeff0 -
watch how fast they can run and how dead game some are sat. at 6 pm in baltimore 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Kimbercolt
I know I am going to get slammed for saying this BUT
Horse are like family, I had one when I was growing
up, Nice quater horse, not a pet, but a companion.
there are horse people out there that feel the same.
There are also people out there with pet fish , goats , rabbits, cows, and pigs. Does that mean we have to quit eating them as well? A horse is just another animal yes they make good companions and except for their size and expense would make great pets. But thet are just animals they are here for our use. If they serve no other use why have them. The majority of people do not ride them they don't use them to pull a plow or wagon. They are meat almost every other society uses them as a food animal even if only for dogs. Sentimentalism at its worst
p.s. Iv'e ridden horses since I was a little kid. I worked on cattle ranches and at a stable until I went into the army in 1979 I use to sit in a saddle for 7-10 hours a day so I know horses I love horses but they are still just animals. And yes I would eat horsemeat and even dog if I was hungry enough.0 -
I find this to be a very interesting issue. Why is it okay to kill some animals and not others ? Are some animals "more human" ? Do some animals have feelings and others dont ? Why is it humans generally accept the killing of small animals but not larger ones ? You can kill tuna but not dolphin. You can kill cows and deer but not horse. You can kill bobcats but not house cats. You can kill coyotes but not dogs. You can kill ducks but not parrots. 0 -
My Uncle used to own a Fox and Mink ranch. He would buy horses really cheap to feed to the animals. He had a huge grinder (the worm in the grinder was 3' across) he would just grind up the horse bones and all. The Fox loved it. 0 -
sounds like your uncle liked to kill things 0 -
quote:Originally posted by turtles11756
sounds like your uncle liked to kill things
What an ignorant comment.0 -
been in ag all my life & have known farmer/ranchers that pastured horses for slaughter just like beef, pork, chicken,& everything else up to rattlesnake....lost track of the no horsemeat in USA thing, sounds like just another business going overseas PC....people around the world eat things the average brain dead citizen here would not comprehend because FOOD comes from the store....one exception that comes to mind is the pictures of starving emaciated Indians (hindu???) surrounded by free roaming cattle...maybe soylent green will sustain these people 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spasmcreek
soylent green
I wondered how long it would take someone to bring up Soylent Green.
quote:"Horses are clearly recreational, companion animals," Cullerton said. "They are not livestock raised for food."
As noted by others above, it's a matter of perspective.0 -
SOYLENT GREEN.Yummy,
XXXXXX0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
29 comments