New Mexico

Senate Bill 67

Prohibition of Horse Slaughter

For Human Consumption

Pro-Horse

Pro-New Mexico Tourism

Pro-Rancher

501C3 Non Profit Corporation

PO Box 932

Placitas, NM 87043

 (505) 867-5228

(505) 259-0376 mobile

February 21, 2005

SB67 is Pro-Horse,

Pro-New Mexico Tourism, and Pro-Rancher

1.      New Mexicans have American Values. New Mexicans do not eat horses. We do not want our government working counter to our American Values. There are currently no horse slaughter plants in New Mexico. This Bill will keep horse slaughter plants out of New Mexico.  It will not keep cattle slaughter plants out of New Mexico and is certainly not intended to.

2.      SB67 will have only positive financial impacts. It will improve our excellent chances for real ecotourism, attracting worldwide acclaim.  However, it will not stop an owner from selling their horse at auction for slaughter elsewhere.  It also allows for euthanasia. 

3.      Horse meat is unfit for human consumption due to the USDA unregulated drugs, wormers, antibiotics, highly carcinogenic anti-inflamatorys that almost all horse owner uses.   

4.      The state of Texas has legislated against horse slaughter for human consumption.  Their one horse slaughter plant (which is foreign-owned) is only operating on a temporary injunction.  New Mexico does not want to be known as a state friendly to horse slaughter for human consumption.

5.      Yes, SB67 IS a win for New Mexico Ranchers.  Well over 63% of the beef consumed in the US is imported, much from the rainforests. We horse folk who are promoting eco-tourism here can provide a stage and a coalition to decrease unfair and unwise competition from cattle imports.

6.      The Real Competition for Ranchers is the 63% of US cattle imported each year. 19 Million of the 30 Million cattle used in the US each year are imports,  many of which are from the rainforests. Eco-tourism and eco-tourists as well as horse advocacy groups such as WHOA are providing a platform and an additional coalition to help our ranchers voice this issue to our federal legislators.

7.      Of the 110,000 American horses slaughtered (all in 3 foreign-owned plants in Texas and Illinois or plants abroad), only 500 to 700 per year are from New Mexico.  This is not worth limiting our ability to tell the world’s tourists that New Mexico is “The Horse Friendly State”.

8.            It costs a minimum of $80 to $100 per month to feed a horse.  Any horse owner should then be able to afford the $50-$75 to have one rendered, after having humanely euthanized their horse.

9.            Often the renderer will pick-up at your ranch, but if not, an owner can just as easily haul their horse to meet a renderer, as hauling a horse to Auction (which are held only on certain days).

10.        Euthanasia can be essentially free, if a gunshot to the head is used. This is typically done in the outer areas where some counties may not have vets. This is a humane method.

11.        Animal abuse has not increased in California where there is even a more restrictive law.

12.        GAO report to Congress on Slaughter plants show their biggest problem is “Ineffective stunning resulting in a Conscious animal”.  This and the trip to a foreign-owned slaughter plant (in the US or abroad) are particularly rough on a flight animal such as the horse.

13.        WHOA would also like to see Horse rescues given the legal right to euthanize horses in their own care as well as for others in their community.

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Last modified: 04/25/08