If Americans Weren’t So Spoiled, We’d Appreciate Horse Meat

chart of horse meat cuts
 

We’re spoiled. You’re spoiled. I’m spoiled – Americans in general are spoiled. No, this isn’t a political rant. Those things don’t belong on a blog and frankly, there are few very bloggers who are actually qualified to rage against “the man” without looking stupid.

Americans are spoiled by our endless food choices and although it’s great to live in a country with abundant, cheap food it has definitely spawned some spoiled, whiny folks who want all people to eat the same way.

Except no two people have the same dietary requirements, restrictions, desires or tastes. Additionally, no two people have the same income restraints that play a massive role in the quality, quantity and type of food that ends up in the refrigerator. There are folks like the Ninja who will eat pretty much anything (except cottage cheese) and then there are folks like me who like meat, carbs, meat, dairy, meat and fruit [and meat]. It’s asinine to try to force us to eat the same things because I would starve and he would inflate like a balloon from eating all the things I didn’t want.

I previously blogged that this restaurant in Philadelphia was going to be serving horsemeat on its menu. However, the chef/owner recently decided to take horsemeat off the menu because he was receiving death threats. Why is it ok to threaten to kill humans over animal lives? I will never understand how folks can have so much hate built up against others.

Furthermore, regardless of the fact that Valley Meat Company in Roswell, New Mexico, has met all the requirements for federal inspection and have been given the “everything is OK” checkmark, the USDA still hasn’t sent an inspector to the plant. Why are so many people dragging their feet? This is an opportunity to jumpstart the economy in Roswell and improve the welfare of unwanted horses.

I’ve already listed the advantages of horse slaughter but if you don’t want to go back and read my previous posts on the topic, I’ve written them again below:

1. Job creation – The plant would create approximately 100 jobs for Roswell area residents and during an economic recession when so many folks are wishing for a decent job – voila! Reopening plants will increase the number of jobs and boost local economies.

2. Exports – the U.S. slaughtered 94,000 horses in 2005, the last full year of horse slaughter before federal inspection funding was repealed in 2007. Without a slaughter plant in the U.S., more than 197,000 horses were exported to other North American countries last year for slaughter. That’s double the number from 2007 slaughter exports. What does that mean?

3. Animal Welfare – It means thousands of horses have endured excruciatingly long drives to Canada or Mexico on trains or trucks that aren’t exactly the most welfare-friendly. Opening a slaughter plant in the U.S. would prevent thousands of horses from being improperly transported across U.S. borders.

4. Horse meat is a delicacy – maybe not to you or I, but in several other countries around the world horse meat is consumed quite often and is a staple in many diets. The U.S. is missing out on valuable export dollars by not opening horse slaughter plants. For example, between January and November of 2012, the UK imported ~$80,000 worth of horsemeat into the UK. That doesn’t include the rest of the EU, Japan, China or the Asia-Pacific region. In short, this could provide a boost to the total agriculture GDP. Every little bit helps right?

Growing up, our parents told us to mind our own business if said business didn’t affect us. I believe the same rules apply to those who are opposed to horse slaughter, but will never eat horse meat, own a horse or have a stake in the industry and are simply chiming in because they think eating horsemeat is wrong. If the horsemeat is just to be exported to other countries, why invest so much time and pure hatred towards those trying to improve the local economy, welfare of horses and provide more protein to a hungry world.

I deeply care about not only my own horses, but about every other horse in the U.S. I am a lifelong horse owner and will fight for measures that improve the welfare of those animals who are unwanted.

So again, I ask you – what do you think? Weigh in below.

Until next time,
~ Buzzard ~


Comments

10 responses to “If Americans Weren’t So Spoiled, We’d Appreciate Horse Meat”

  1. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    Again – another mis-informed pro-slaughter person. First, horse meat is toxic and secondly all of the slaughter houses were and will probably again be owned by foreign companies. There is nothing to be gained in the US except a few measley low paying jobs which will go to illegals anyways, polluted waterways, increase in crime, the stench, etc. If you really want to do something worthwhile for your horses, geld, encourage less breeding, don't support AQHA and other registries that do.

    1. Dana Gettel Avatar
      Dana Gettel

      I'm pretty sure you haven't seen all the horses abandoned left to starve or freeze in the winter. It is pure torture for horses to have to travel such far conditions and then numerous times treated inhumanely at the plants once they arrive. I don't believe for a minute that horse meat is toxic. You're right Brandi, it's a crime to see the way these animals are treated.

  2. Thank you for your comment

    Why do you think horsemeat is toxic? It's consumed in several countries worldwide and isn't found to be toxic. Drugs used in horses have withdrawal times and can be monitored – same as with other animals that are slaughtered.

    What foreign companies are you referring to that own horses plants? Valley Meat, the only one that is close to opening, is owned by a New Mexico family.

    I would really love to hear your reasoning about an increase in crime?? There is a lot of animal abuse and neglect taking place RIGHT NOW (which is a crime) because owners have no outlet for their expensive to feed, past their prime horses. What crime do you think will increase?

    I sincerely hope you come back and want to engage in dialogue instead of dropping a comment and never returning.

    Thanks again for reading.

  3. Brandi, I enjoyed this post & plan on 'sharing'it as I agree with you on everything you have mentioned. Thanks for taking a stand & informing readers.

  4. Paul and Alicia – thanks for reading and sharing. I welcome dialogue about these important issues!

    Dana – thanks for chiming in and readng!

  5. This article is mind blowing I read it and enjoyed. I always find this type of article to learn and gather knowledge.

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  6. Not sure how I feel…but it's because I don't know much and I love horses…and eating them sounds wrong. But in keeping it real, I did think you did a good job in articulating the article. 🙂

  7. If I could add one more item, I just read the toxic comment. I don't think horse meat is toxic, however, I do know families that came from Vietnam and had always eaten horse meat and are now allergic to the vaccination for Tetnus. Something to do with the fact that they did eat horse meat on a regular basis and it is formulated from horses? I don't know… wonder if there are any studies on that…do you know?

  8. Rick de los Santos, owner of Valley Meat in Roswell,NM is financially backed by a foreign entity based in The Netherlands. This entity is funding the legal cost and federal lobbying. Please do further research as to the facts.

  9. So Sue, how does that affect my points of job creation, export markets, animal welfare and horse meat being in other countries? I don't think the funding affects these things in any way shape or form.