09/15/08 Subject of horse slaughter raised at state house meeting

Washington Ag September 15, 2008 If Washington were to establish a state meat inspection program and not just rely on federal inspection, Washington State Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Jack Field told a state legislative committee Friday, a state inspected equine facility needs to be discussed. Field: "I would be very welcome and willing if members of the committee would be so inclined to have that discussion. I have had a number of visits with folks from the Yakama and Colville nation that seem quite interested in this as well. And we might have an opportunity for further discussion if so inclined." The only public response on that issue at the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee meeting came from Representative Judy Warnick. Warnick: "I am a horse owner. I am involved with a lot of horse owners, With the price of feed, price of everything now days, a lot of responsible owners are looking that direction because there are many, many animals being abandoned and abused. So I would like to continue that discussion." There are currently no operating horse slaughter facilities in the United States and opponents of the practice are pushing legislation in Congress that would not only ban horse slaughter in the U.S. for human consumption but also the transport of horses out of the country for slaughter. I'm Bob Hoff.