Equine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Horse slaughter and TSE Prion disease ?..

By Nicole Paquette

Special to the Star-Telegram

When it comes to the issue of horse slaughter, the Star-Telegram's Monday editorial got one thing right: The American people, and Texans in particular, love their horses -- but because they are trusted companions, not dinner. (See: "State horse slaughter ban needs revisiting")

American horse lovers, breeders and owners shudder at the thought of any horse of theirs ending up as a high-priced appetizer in Belgium or Japan.

The facts surrounding horse slaughter make it clear why Americans find it to be such a despicable end for horses. The process is brutal and innately inhumane. Inside the bloody, panic-stricken environment of a slaughterhouse, horses endure torture during often-repeated attempts to render them unconscious.

The USDA documented horrendous cruelty at the foreign-owned plants in Texas prior to their closure, despite the presence of federal inspectors. There's no reason to believe it won't be the same if plants reopen here.

The horse slaughter industry was never good for the economy -- it was good for the profiteers, and no one else. The foreign-owned horse slaughter plants that operated in Texas until 2007 caused nothing but controversy and problems. They employed no more than a few dozen people in low-paying, highly dangerous jobs. Profits didn't benefit local economies, but were instead pocketed overseas by foreign corporations. The communities that hosted the plants were constantly beset by pollution and the unending stench of rotten blood and offal. In their quest to improve their profit margin, these foreign-owned businesses did everything they could to avoid paying their property taxes and the fines levied against them for their environmental violations.

The negative image created by these operations caused other businesses to look elsewhere for a place to set up shop.

All of these unpleasant factors led Paula Bacon, former mayor of Kaufman (where one of the plants was located), to say, "As a community leader where we are directly impacted by the horse slaughter industry, I can assure you the economic development return to our community is negative. The foreign-owned companies profit at our expense -- it is time for them to go."

Slaughtering horses at plants in Texas never prevented the illegal acts of horse neglect and abandonment, nor has their export to plants across our borders. In the midst of today's difficult economic times, neglect and abandonment continue, though the same number of our horses are still being slaughtered. There's no single fix to the problem of homeless or neglected horses, just like there is no single fix to the pet overpopulation problem. These challenges can be solved only with a blend of wise policy solutions, rescue and sanctuary work and a large dose of personal responsibility.

For its part, the American Quarter Horse Association should stop equating the horror of the slaughter plant with "humane euthanasia." There is nothing peaceful or dignified about hauling a horse thousands of miles in terrible conditions to a harrowing death in the kill box. The horse industry should discourage the overbreeding of America's horses and relying on the cruel and predatory killer buyers to snatch up the excess. Reducing the supply of horses and focusing on improved quality are the best and most sustainable ways to give the equine industry the boost it needs.

Opinion polls are clear: The vast majority (more than 70 percent) of Americans and nearly 80 percent of Texans oppose the slaughter of horses. It is absurd to consider repealing a law that has been on the books since 1949 and has continuously been upheld in the Texas Legislature and in the courts. The majority of Texans have spoken, and it is high time we listen.

Horses are members of the family, trusted companions and partners in recreation and sport. Those few but noisy individuals clamoring for slaughter should find other ways to "help" horses, if that is their aim. Let's start by finally banning horse slaughter all across the country, by passing the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S.1176/H.R. 2966).

Nicole G. Paquette of Austin is the Texas senior state director of the Humane Society of the United States.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/07/3578723/horse-slaughter-in-texas-and-everywhere.html

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Horse slaughter in Texas needs revisiting

Posted Sunday, Dec. 04, 2011

Americans, and Texans in particular, have long had a romance with the horse, that noble-looking animal that has served for work, sport and as a big barnyard pet.

It also once was served for food -- though the very thought of that is repulsive to some people. Until recently, that use was illegal following a 2006 maneuver by Congress to not fund federal inspections of horse meat. That congressional gimmick shut down horse slaughter houses in the United States the following year.

But things changed again recently, when Congress passed an agriculture appropriations bill that omitted the ban on USDA horse meat inspections. That means horse slaughter is legal again in the United States, except in states that have their own prohibition against it.

Texas has a 1949 law on the books that bans the possession or transport of horse meat for human consumption, a statute that was upheld by a state attorney general's ruling in 2002 and by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. That means there will be no equine steaks served in this state unless legislators change the law.

That's something they should do.

Before Congress cut off funding for inspections and the 5th Circuit ruled on Texas' law, three horse slaughter plants operated in the U.S.: two were in Texas, one of them in Fort Worth. They processed meat mostly for consumption overseas.

Animal-rights advocates' efforts to save horses from slaughter apparently didn't stop the killing, even after the packing plants shut down.

A report by the Government Accountability Office showed that, since the closing of domestic slaughter houses in 2007, about the same number of American horses are being killed -- about 138,000 in 2010. The only difference is they are being transported to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.

In other words, three American businesses were forced to shut down and the work (and profit) went to foreign countries.

"From 2006 through 2010, U.S. horse exports for slaughter increased by 148 percent to Canada and 660 percent to Mexico," the GAO reported.

Since the ban, the GAO also reported, there has been a dramatic increase in reports of horse neglect, a trend expected to get even worse in this down economy. The American Quarter Horse Association had argued in 2006 that processing of unwanted horses was "a necessary aspect of the equine industry, because it provides a humane euthanasia alternative for horses that might otherwise continue a life of discomfort and pain, or inadequate care or abandonment."

Texans might not want to see this industry return to the state, insisting that eating horse flesh is sacrilege in a place where the cowboy is heralded as a heroic figure and his trusted four-legged companion is idealized.

But other states are eager for the business. Nine have passed resolutions calling for the return of horse slaughter. The Star- Telegram reported Thursday that in a few states plans are underway to retrofit facilities to handle processing of horse meat, and a former representative of the three closed Texas packing plants predicts that a plant could be operational in six months to a year.

The 1949 Texas law banning consumption of horse meat is outdated and needs to be repealed.

At the very least, the Legislature should take up the issue when it convenes in 2013 and let Texans have their say on this important -- albeit emotional -- public policy issue.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/04/3570132/horse-slaughter-in-texas-needs.html

Horse Meat

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/12/07/3578723/horse-slaughter-in-texas-and-everywhere.html

http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/

I am against horse slaughter for consumption or any other purpose i.e. fertilizer, plastic, fuel, etc.

I am against the use of primates in scientific studies. because arguments will always persist on proof of human relation from any given study. However, I am for Human use in place of Primates in these studies. I said it long ago. Death Row inmates. compensate the families and do the studies on these death row inmates. it could be the last good thing they ever do. just my opinion.

For horses, they should use the same policy they use in the USA for old diseased mad cows, i.e. SSS policy. shoot, shovel, and shut up. either bury them or incinerate them. again, just my opinion.

there is no humanity anymore $$$

It brings me to the old movie. how many times do old movies come true? strange...

'soyent green'.

see ;

Soylent Green is a 1973 dystopian science fiction movie depicting a future in which overpopulation lead to depleted resources, which in turn leads to widespread unemployment and poverty. Real fruit, vegetables, and meat are rare, commodities are expensive, and much of the population survives on processed food rations, including "soylent green" wafers.

The film overlays the science fiction and police procedural genres as it depicts the efforts of New York City police detective Robert Thorn (Charlton Heston) and elderly police researcher Sol Roth (Edward G. Robinson) to investigate the brutal murder of a wealthy businessman named William R. Simonson (Joseph Cotten). Thorn and Roth uncover clues which suggest that it is more than simply a bungled burglary.

snip...

After Roth dies, Thorn sneaks into the basement of the government-assisted suicide facility, where he sees corpses being loaded onto waste disposal trucks. He secretly hitches a ride on one of the trucks, which is driven to a heavily guarded waste disposal plant. Once inside the plant, Thorn sees how the corpses are processed into Soylent Green wafers. After Thorn escapes from the plant and heads for the supreme exchange with the information, he is ambushed by Fielding and several other gunmen. In the shootout, Thorn kills some of the gunmen, but is himself wounded. He retreats into a cathedral filled with homeless people. After a desperate fight, Thorn stabs and kills Fielding.

When police backup arrives, the seriously wounded and nearly hysterical Thorn confides to Hatcher the horrible secret behind Soylent Green and urges him to spread the word: "Soylent Green is people! We've got to stop them somehow!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green

don’t believe me, were almost there ;

http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/08/creating-plastic-from-beef-and-what.html

IN CONFIDENCE

SUSPECT BSE IN A HORSE

CYO BSE 1 9

IN CONFIDENCE

SUSPECT BSE IN A HORSE

The Parliamentary Secretary (Mr Maclean) will wish to be aware that, in making his differential diagnosis, a veterinary surgeon in the Reading area has included the possibility of BSE in a horse under his care. Although it is unlikely to be BSE, because of the symptoms exhibited the veterinarian believes that he cannot exclude the possibility. The case was brought to the notice of one of the veterinary staff at the CVL by the owner's veterinary surgeon and liaison is being maintained.

The horse in question is a five-year old eventing gelding which was purchased by the present owner about four months ago. Approximately two months after purchase the animal became a little apprehensive, developed mild nervous symptoms and became over-sensitive to noise. The nervous symptoms have increased and the horse is now practically impossible to ride. Investigations by the owner's private veterinary surgeon are continuing but it is likely that the animal will have to be destroyed.

If the horse should die or be destroyed, a full post-mortem examination will be required for insurance purposes and will probably be carried out at a non-Ministry laboratory. However, Mr Bradley of the Pathology Department, CVL, has informed the private veterinary surgeon that he is willing to provide a second opinion on the brain histology if requested.

I will keep the Parliamentary Secretary informed of any further developments in the case.

I CRAWFORD

14 May 1990

Mr M P H Hill, PS/Parliamentary secretary (Mr Maclean) - by FAX

cc:

Private Offices

Mr K C Meldrum

Mrs E A J Attridge D J Evans Mr K C Taylor Mr R Lawson Mr R Bradley. CVL

(hand written notes i cannot read all (cut short) as follows...tss)

The Parliamentary Secretary (Mr Maclean was grateful for this. He said that we must keep very close to ...on it, and when the horse dies, or is put down we must be told immediately. He also feels it is very important that our veterinary staff be involved in the brain examination. .........(cannot read the rest .............TSS)

90/05.14/10.1

http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20090114125643/http://www.bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/05/14010001.pdf

Mr A Huws Principal WOAD2A CP2

SUSPECT BSE IN A HORSE

You will wish to be aware that on Thursday afternoon 25 June the T/DVO Powys received a phone call from a veterinary Surgeon reporting his suspicion that a horse had ___contracted BSE after having been fed cattle cake___.

The clinical symptoms described were similar to those shown by cattle there ___being a similar case some months ago on the same premises___.

The owner' s name and address is:

Irene Thomas J Thomas & Company Riding Stables Penybryn Llangorse Brecon

The horse is a 12 year old gelding used for pony trekking.

By yesterday evening the horse was in a comatose state and on humane grounds was destroyed by the veterinary Surgeon. At his request a full post mortem and laboratory investigation will be carried out at the Carmarthen Veterinary Investigation Centre this morning to ascertain the exact cause; I have been told this will take at least two weeks. Charges to the veterinary Surgeon have been waived in this instance.

I will inform you immediately I receive a diagnosis.

26 June 1990

D SUMMERS DRVO

Mr D R Williams, RVO

Mr A R Hunter, SVIO

90/06.26/10.1

http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20090505194948/http://bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/06/26009001.pdf

Mr A Huws Principal WOAD2A CP2

SUSPECT BSE IN A HORSE

You will wish to be aware that on Thursday afternoon 25 June the T/DVO Powys received a phone call from a veterinary Surgeon reporting his suspicion that a horse had contracted BSE after having been fed cattle cake. The clinical symptoms described were similar to those shown by cattle there being a similar case some months ago on the same premises.

The owner' s name and address is:

Irene Thomas J Thomas & Company Riding Stables Penybryn Llangorse Brecon

The horse is a 12 year old gelding used for pony trekking.

I will inform you immediately I receive a diagnosis.

26 June 1990

D SUMMERS DRVO

Mr D R Williams, RVO

Mr A R Hunter, SVIO

90/06.26/10.1

http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20090505194948/http://bseinquiry.gov.uk/files/yb/1990/06/26010001.pdf

full text ;

http://transmissiblespongiformencephalopathy.blogspot.com/2011/03/detection-of-prion-protein-in-urine.html