by Tim Nichols

The Montana Senate approved a bill by a 27-23 vote on Friday that would allow the construction of a plant to slaughter horses for human consumption. The bill now moves to the desk of Governor Brian Schweitzer to possibly become law.

The Senate endorsed House Bill 418, which  would allow a horse slaughter facility in the predominately rural state and offer it legal protection if someone challenges legality of the plant. The bill also requires anyone contesting the construction of the plant to post a bond equal to 20% of the estimated construction cost.

The bill, introduced by state Representative Ed Butcher (R-Winifred), passed the state House of Representatives on February 25 by a 66-33 margin.

Butcher said about 80% of his constituents support the legislation.

Butcher said the proposed plant would accept horses from out of state and all breeds of equine. Butcher said the selling of the horse meat will be determined by export certificates from the United States Department of Agriculture.

The bill is expected to be on Schweitzer’s desk next week. Sarah Elliott, spokesperson for the governor, said the governor currently has no opinion on the issue.

“We will review the bill when it gets to our office, that’s where we’re at,” Elliott said.

While there are no horse slaughter facilities operating in the United States for the purpose of human consumption—the last one was closed in DeKalb, Illinois, in 2007 by court order— the practice of slaughtering horses remains prevalent in Canada and Mexico.

In January, United States Senator John Conyers (D-Michigan) introduced the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2009, which would make it a federal crime to sell a horse with the knowledge that it will be slaughtered for human consumption. The bill was referred to a House subcommittee on March 16.

Montana is not the only state looking into opening horse slaughter facilities.

In North Dakota, House Bill 1496 will commission a study to determine the feasibility of a horse slaughtering facility. In Illinois, House Bill 583 would repeal the state’s ban on the practice.

Racetracks such as Suffolk Downs, Mountaineer Race Track, and those owned by Magna Entertainment Corp. have instituted policies of banning horsemen caught selling their horses to “killer buyers”—those who purchase horses with the sole purpose of reselling them to foreign slaughterhouses.

Tim Nichols is internet content editor of THOROUGHBRED TIMES