For the Sake of the Horse, Horse People, & Animal Agriculture An NCSL Resolution for Common Sense & Compassion.
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For the Sake of the For the Sake of the Horse, Horse People, & Horse, Horse People, & Animal AgricultureAnimal Agriculture
An NCSL Resolution for An NCSL Resolution for Common Sense & CompassionCommon Sense & Compassion
What happens when an entire sector of animal agriculture is rendered worthless…
What happens to… Markets Transportation Value Animal Welfare Disposal Private Property Rights Costs to States & Taxpayers Waste of it All
How Big is the Problem?
1%-2% of private horses used to be processed Most un-useable horses are worthless Zero market for brood mares, weanlings, yearlings
10 million horses in the USOver 9 million in private sector
At least 33,000 on BLM 31,000 in holding pens
US Plants Closed Sept 2007…US Plants Closed Sept 2007…Before 2007Before 2007 Past 15 years – 1 to 2 % sent for processing in U.S. - +/- 100,000Past 15 years – 1 to 2 % sent for processing in U.S. - +/- 100,000
10 – 20,000 sent to Canada 10 – 20,000 sent to Canada 6,000 – 12,000 to Mexico 6,000 – 12,000 to Mexico
U.S. plants closed as of Sept 2007U.S. plants closed as of Sept 2007 Mexico accepted over 45, 000 US horsesMexico accepted over 45, 000 US horses Canada accepted over 30,000Canada accepted over 30,000
In 2008In 2008 As of August 14As of August 14
32,443 head to Mexico, 32,443 head to Mexico, 2007 by this date, 22, 632*2007 by this date, 22, 632*
**USDA Market News US to Mexico Weekly Livestock Export Summary USDA Market News US to Mexico Weekly Livestock Export Summary
So, what can you So, what can you do with an un-do with an un-useable horse?useable horse?
Sell to another ownerSell to another owner Sell at auctionSell at auction Give awayGive away EuthanizeEuthanize Send to processing facilitySend to processing facility Neglected/Abandoned Neglected/Abandoned
Equine Recovery FacilitiesEquine Recovery Facilities
Fall 2007/ Early 2008Fall 2007/ Early 2008
30 or more rescues 30 or more rescues across the countryacross the country
Most echoed the same Most echoed the same concernsconcerns
Recovery Comments from Early Recovery Comments from Early 20082008 Georgia: the number of unwanted horses has gone Georgia: the number of unwanted horses has gone
through the roof.through the roof. Indiana: contacts to facility up four foldIndiana: contacts to facility up four fold Maryland: 3 – 5 calls a day, have to turn many Maryland: 3 – 5 calls a day, have to turn many
away.away. Washington: rescue full. Seeing more sickly horsesWashington: rescue full. Seeing more sickly horses Texas: rescues are expected to clean up the mess Texas: rescues are expected to clean up the mess
created by the short sightedness of some groups created by the short sightedness of some groups
Neglected HorsesNeglected Horses
Neglected Horses taken in by Neglected Horses taken in by USUUSU
August 08 Recovery August 08 Recovery CommentsComments
Huge increase in number of Huge increase in number of people not wanting to keep their people not wanting to keep their horseshorses
Some rescues have gotten hate Some rescues have gotten hate mail if they express their opinion mail if they express their opinion on horse processingon horse processing
Donation upon taking a horse inDonation upon taking a horse in 3 – 4 calls a day now compared to 3 – 4 calls a day now compared to
3 – 4 a month previously3 – 4 a month previously
Recovery comments cont’.Recovery comments cont’. Not only receiving local Not only receiving local
calls but now from other calls but now from other statesstates
Better quality, ie registered Better quality, ie registered horseshorses
Not getting the number of Not getting the number of horses adopted out as in horses adopted out as in the pastthe past
Horses in poorer condition Horses in poorer condition
Many have not been handled as Many have not been handled as should have beenshould have been
More calls on neglect or abuse More calls on neglect or abuse casescases
For first time having to place For first time having to place horses with other rescues, horses with other rescues, financially strapped.financially strapped.
$500 for 1$500 for 1stst three months then three months then $250 after that.$250 after that.
$200 a month per head not $200 a month per head not including farrierincluding farrier
Horse Auction CompaniesHorse Auction Companies Fall 07/Early 08Fall 07/Early 08 15 -20 auction 15 -20 auction
companies across the companies across the countrycountry Worried about the futureWorried about the future Horses left at the auction Horses left at the auction
facilityfacility Low end horses have no Low end horses have no
marketmarket High quality horses still High quality horses still
have markethave market
Auction Company Cont.’Auction Company Cont.’
The horse market is in The horse market is in crisiscrisis
Owners can no longer Owners can no longer count on getting any count on getting any money back when they money back when they want to sellwant to sell
Concern over being Concern over being able to continue with able to continue with horse auctionshorse auctions
The horse that The horse that yesterday was a $5000 yesterday was a $5000 horse today is a $2000 horse today is a $2000 horsehorse
Seeing more business Seeing more business coming from out of coming from out of country, ie Canadians country, ie Canadians or Europeans buying or Europeans buying horses because of horses because of weak dollarweak dollar
One owner indicated One owner indicated that in 2007 20% of his that in 2007 20% of his business was out of business was out of country, in 2008 45% country, in 2008 45% out of country.out of country.
Auction Companies August 08Auction Companies August 08 Have begun screening horses Have begun screening horses
coming in. coming in. Low end and mid range horses Low end and mid range horses
market has bottomed out. market has bottomed out. Horses bring half or less than Horses bring half or less than
what they would have brought what they would have brought two years ago.two years ago.
Broodmares, weanling and Broodmares, weanling and yearling no marketyearling no market
Horses now hauled much Horses now hauled much longer distances if going for longer distances if going for processingprocessing
Consignments down 30%Consignments down 30% Solid broke geldings sellSolid broke geldings sell Average horse owner with horse Average horse owner with horse
of average pedigree has no of average pedigree has no marketmarket
Do not see it getting better in the Do not see it getting better in the near futurenear future
More than one company has More than one company has canceled fall salescanceled fall sales
Family run businesses Family run businesses established for decades may established for decades may shut downshut down
Abandoned HorsesAbandoned Horses
What has contributed to the What has contributed to the number of neglected or number of neglected or “unwanted” horses?“unwanted” horses?
High hay costsHigh hay costs High feed costsHigh feed costs Bad economyBad economy Lost jobsLost jobs High gas and food High gas and food
costscosts Housing marketHousing market Closing of the Closing of the
processing facilitiesprocessing facilities
BLM Information end of 08BLM Information end of 08
2007 - $22 million for 2007 - $22 million for holding costs nationally holding costs nationally
2008 – 70% of BLM budget 2008 – 70% of BLM budget will go towards maintaining will go towards maintaining the horses the horses
2009 - predict that 80% of 2009 - predict that 80% of total budget will be needed total budget will be needed to cover these coststo cover these costs
2012 – to continue its 2012 – to continue its current removal and holding current removal and holding practices, the BLM will need practices, the BLM will need $77 million$77 million
BLM Holding BLM Holding SitesSites
Short term facilitiesShort term facilities Hold horses for adoptionHold horses for adoption Up to about 6 months but Up to about 6 months but
if not adopted will hold if not adopted will hold them longerthem longer
BLM Long Term HoldingBLM Long Term Holding
Long term facilities Long term facilities locationslocations Pasture settingPasture setting Horses may remain Horses may remain
for yearsfor years Implications Implications
Land useLand use CostCost
Costs per horseCosts per horse
At BLM holding facilities- $6 per day per horse At BLM holding facilities- $6 per day per horse At prison facilities- $3 per day per head At prison facilities- $3 per day per head Long term facilities- $1.30 per day per headLong term facilities- $1.30 per day per head
Adoption Adoption ProgramProgram From October 1, 07 thruFrom October 1, 07 thru
July 30, 08 Nationally July 30, 08 Nationally adopted 2771, TARGET adopted 2771, TARGET number is 5000number is 5000
Seeing more returns than in Seeing more returns than in the pastthe past Utah- Utah-
Past years 12 – 15 Past years 12 – 15 returns per yearreturns per year
2007 took back 47 2007 took back 47 animalsanimals
2008 may reach 50 2008 may reach 50 returnsreturns
Adoption Program Cont.’Adoption Program Cont.’ Adoptions have bottomed Adoptions have bottomed
outout June 08- Wyoming, June 08- Wyoming,
Montana, and Colorado Montana, and Colorado
adopted out less than 50 adopted out less than 50
head, typically would head, typically would
adopt 150 head.adopt 150 head. July 08- 12 horses adopted out of 55, typically 50 – 60% July 08- 12 horses adopted out of 55, typically 50 – 60%
would have been adopted. would have been adopted. August 08- 10 out of 55 adoptedAugust 08- 10 out of 55 adopted
BLM Cont’.BLM Cont’.
Utah BLM has Utah BLM has canceled gathers for canceled gathers for rest of year. rest of year.
BLM has the authority BLM has the authority to euthanize the horses to euthanize the horses in holding facilitiesin holding facilities
BLM BLM OptionsOptions Selling without optionsSelling without options Mustang Heritage Mustang Heritage
Foundation pictureFoundation picture Mustang ChallengeMustang Challenge
Fertility vaccinesFertility vaccines EuthanizingEuthanizing
History of Horse ProcessingHistory of Horse Processing
Americans have eaten Americans have eaten horse meat throughout horse meat throughout our historyour history
America has provided America has provided horse meat to other horse meat to other countries for decadescountries for decades
The Nature of Horses
Horses are livestock Private property Uses
Horses as pets Alternatives needed
2003 Metric Tons 207Dollars $12,843
2004 Metric Tons 0Dollars $0.00
2005 Metric Tons 0Dollars $0.00
2006 Metric Tons 14Dollars $17,174
2007 Metric Tons 321.5Dollars $501,824
2008* Metric Tons 515.7Dollars $766,488
*Jan-Sept 2008
U.S. Imports of Horse, Ass, and Mule Meat
There is a market for horsemeat in the US
Since plant closures have had to import horsemeat back in to the US
Primarily for zoo meat, but also ethnic markets desiring horsemeat
Import Market
Export Market
Majority of world cultures appreciate horsemeat for nutrition, taste, and value Most of Europe, Asia, and French Canada China imports 204,000 metric tons Mexico 100,000 metric tons Brazil 100,000 metric tons
Frugal Icelanders Prepare For The HolidaysMorning Edition, December 11, 2008 · Iceland has been hit by the global financial crisis in a big way. With unemployment surging and the currency collapsing, less expensive traditional staples are coming back into fashion. Frugal Icelanders are avoiding imported beers. They are also buying horse meat, which is half the price of beef.
Doesn’t it make sense to use this resource? 10 million people die of hunger & hunger
related diseases every year 854 million go to bed hungry every night-
which is more than the combined populations of the United States, Canada, and the European Union
24,000 die every day—one every 3.5 seconds
Rather than spend taxpayer dollars on horses standing in holding pens that will never be adopted, and cannot be turned back out on an already over-populated, over-grazed range…why not send them to market, feed the hungry, and use the revenue to improve the conditions for other horses and people?
The ethics of animal agriculture… How we treat our animals…
Compassion Respect Responsibility Morals
For the good of the horses, and the horse people of this nation…
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