By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

WYMAN, Mich. – Montcalm County Farm Bureau (MCFB) is calling on the state’s largest farm organization to continue its stand opposing legislation that bans horse slaughter in the United States.

During its annual meeting Aug. 26, the MCFB approved two policies aimed at addressing the issue. One calls for opposition to the nation’s horse slaughter ban enacted in 2006. The second policy opposes House Resolution 6598, the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act, which was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives Senate Judiciary Committee July 23, and links the practice of horse slaughter to animal cruelty. It would prohibit the transport, sale, delivery or export of horses for slaughter or human consumption.
“The slaughter ban has really put a crunch on the horse industry,” said Policy Development Committee member Cheryl Strautz, who proposed and presented the policy.

“The closure of the remaining three U.S. horse processing plants in 2007 marked a dramatic increase in a group of equines the industry has dubbed as unwanted horses,” the policy states. “Due to these closures, some 70,000 horse and other equines will need to be placed annually.”

“The big underlying issue is, what are people supposed to do with unwanted horses?” Strautz said. “The legislation fails to address the issue of the money and resources needed to care for these animals. Until the ban took effect, slaughter was a viable end-of-life option.”

“As of July 2008, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management had in its possession about 30,000 unwanted horses, costing approximately $2,000 per horse per year to care for,” the policy states. “A 2008 study by Utah State University estimates that the direct economic impact of the slaughter ban on the horse industry will be upward of $50 million annually ($26 million in lost export revenue and $20 million-$29 million in increased disposal costs).”

The ban means that horse owners and breeders must incur the cost of disposal of horses at the end of their useful lives instead of anticipating any salvage value for these horses once they are sold.
In 2006, Congress voted to discontinue use of appropriated funds for slaughter, but it was able to continue with industry funding. At the time, two plants in Texas and one in Illinois effectively handled the majority of horse slaughter for human consumption. The meat was sold primarily in Europe and Asia.

In 2007, court action closed the Texas plants and a state ban closed the Illinois plant.

“By taking away the option of slaughter, we also are seeing an increase in equine abuse and neglect cases,” Strautz said. “Colorado alone has tracked a 40 percent increase in abuse and neglect cases in horses during the last year.

“The ban on horse slaughter is like telling a dairy farmer they no longer could sell cull cows for slaughter.”

According to Ernie Birchmeier, livestock and dairy specialist with Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB), the farm organization opposes the ban at both the state and national levels.

“I know not all Americans look at slaughtering horses as a viable end-of-life option, but we have no other options,” he said. “When we start going down the slippery slope of the ability to harvest one species of animal for consumption, where does it stop?

“Finally, what do we do with them? We know what’s happening right now is that they are being abandoned or turned loose. When those who have pushed the slaughter ban are asked what do we do with them, they say it’s not their problem.

“The equine industry has to realize that they are part of agriculture whether they like it or not,” Birchmeier added.

“They are defined as livestock in our animal industry act. (Owners) are afforded the same protections of everyone else. With that comes the responsibility to act like livestock owners.”

The MFB covers the issue in its State Livestock and Poultry Health Policy.

At the national level, the American Farm Bureau Federation Policy “supports funding for food safety and inspection service inspectors in facilities that slaughter horses.

“We oppose the passage of the horse slaughter prevention act or similar legislation, the classification of horses as companion animals and any regulations that prohibit the harvest of equine.”

Other policies approved by the MCFB include support of a new countywide fairgrounds project, expanding the county’s inmate work program and continued support for efforts to curb scrap metal thefts, support of wind energy initiatives, water use laws, renewal of taxation laws regarding depreciation and estate and gift taxes and others.

“Policies are vital to the success of agriculture in this state,” said Charles Mulholland, MCFB member and District 7 Director-at-Large with the MFB board. “Once a year this is where policy originates. Policies are all examined in detail and moved up to the state and national levels. It’s a very important process for member involvement.”

MCFB Policy Development Chairwoman Lisa Johnson agreed. “The members of the policy development committee don’t have all the answers,” she said. “This is your opportunity to voice your opinions. We welcome questions, comments or debate.”

All policies approved at the county level will be forwarded to the MFB Policy Development Committee, which will select those to be considered at the MFB state annual meeting Dec. 2-5 in Grand Rapids.

(In the interest of disclosure, it should be noted that Cheryl Strautz is the reporter’s sister. –Ed.)