Horse meat from here? Just say no
So Dale Steenbergen at the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce has no comment on a proposed horse slaughter facility here.
Well, here's one suggestion:
Not only no, but hell no!
That should be the message coming from Mr. Steenbergen, the Cheyenne City Council, the Laramie County Commission, Cheyenne LEADS, this area's legislative delegation, the governor (who signed this ill-conceived legislation) and anyone else who cares about progress and prosperity in this community.
There are so many things wrong with this proposal from state Rep. Sue Wallis, R-Recluse, that it is hard to keep track of them. But let's focus on the most important one: Cheyenne's image.
How could Mr. Steenbergen and other community officials here not speak out -- very loudly -- against a proposal that will draw national disdain?
Does Cheyenne want to be known to potential employers and possible technology-minded residents (remember, the world's largest supercomputer soon will be opening here) as a progressive community or as one that imports horses and puts some 7,000 of them to death every year?
Do community leaders hope to attract tourists or chase them away? Are they willing to face a potential national boycott from such groups as the Humane Society simply to allow a rogue state representative and her investors to try to peddle horse meat from Wyoming?
Does the Chamber of Commerce want people to enter town along a newly renovated West Lincolnway only to look across the railroad tracks and see holding pens for horses awaiting their turn in a slaughterhouse, mobile or not?
No, this is not what Cheyenne in 2010 should be about -- not to mention such issues as the odors of holding and slaughtering of horses and the environmental implications of such a facility -- and its leaders need to consistently speak up until this project is laid to rest for good.
It is true that the issue of what to do with horses as they reach the end of their lives is problematic. And parts of Ms. Wallis' proposal make sense.
She would bring in the horses, triage them and then move out those that can be adopted or rescued. Unfortunately, the rest would be killed in some yet-to-be-explained "humane way." Then the meat would be sold -- though to whom and for what use remains unclear, given that there presently is no market for it.
continue reading
http://wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/06/29/opinion/staff_editorials/ourview291.txt
Go Vegan!
Horse meat is unfit for humans to eat. Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 48, Issue 5, May 2010, Pages 1270-1274
ReplyDeleteAssociation of phenylbutazone usage with horses bought for slaughter: A public health risk
Nicholas Dodman, Nicolas Blondeau, Ann M. Marini http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6P-4YF5RB0-1&_user=10&_coverDate=05%2F31%2F2010&_alid=1317753422&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=search&_cdi=5036&_sort=r&_docanchor=&view=c&_ct=4&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2f8a2c55a559e5963d0f1e02b682319c
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - prohibited as well Phenylbutazone, known as "bute," is a veterinary drug only label-approved by the Food & Drug Administration for use by veterinarians in dogs and horses. It has been associated with debilitating conditions in humans and it is absolutely not permitted for use in food-producing animals. USDA/FSIS has conducted a special project to for this drug in selected bovine slaughter plants under federal inspection. An earlier pilot project by FSIS found traces less than 3% of the livestock selected for testing, sufficient cause for this special project. There is no tolerance for this drug in food-producing livestock, and they and their by-products are condemned when it is detected. Dairy producers must not use this drug in food-producing livestock and if it is found, those producers will be subject to FDA investigation and possible prosecution. http://www.saanendoah.com/prohibiteddrugs.html
Horse Owner Survey Shows NSAID Use Trends
In a recent survey, 96% of respondents said they used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control the joint pain and inflammation in horses, and 82% administer them without always consulting their veterinarian. More than 1,400 horse owners and trainers were surveyed to better understand attitudes toward NSAIDs, in a project sponsored by Merial, the maker of Equioxx (firocoxib).
http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=14073
99 percent of horses that started in California last year raced on bute, according to Daily Racing Form. Bute is banned in the United States and Canada for horses intended for the food chain. That’s a permanent ban.
Nonsteroidal Medication (NSAID’s)
Phenylbutazone (Bute), flunixin meglamine (Banamine), and ketoprofen (Ketofen) are the most common NSAID’s used in horses while aspirin and ibuprofen are the most commonly used NSAID’s in humans. These are very effective in eliminating discomfort and are usually the first line of therapy in minor musculoskeletal pain.
http://www.aaep.org/health_articles_view.php?id=253
NSAIDs The systemic NSAID group includes phenylbutazone (Butazolidin) and flunixin meglumine (Banamine), which are 2 of the most widely prescribed drugs in equine medicine.
Volume 25, Issue 3, Pages 98-102 (March 2005)
Dr Anthony Blikslager, DVM, PhD, DACVS (Associate Professor)a, Dr Sam Jones, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (Associate Professor)b
http://www.j-evs.com/article/S0737-0806%2805%2900061-4/abstract
Question
Are horses used to make pet food?
Answer
Horses are not raised for food in the United States so they are not generally used in commercial pet foods. http://www.petfoodreport.com/aboutpetfood.htm