More NEWS & VIEWS
WS Unwanted Horses continued from page 9
tribes and animal welfare organizations; 3) Challenges facing the USDA in the over- sight of welfare and transport of horses export- ed for slaughter. GAO interviewed and collected data from of-
fi cials from USDA and other Federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, representa- tives of the livestock industry, animal welfare organizations, State Veterinarians from 17 states with the largest horse populations (includ- ing Maryland), and academics with expertise in the horse industry. Representatives of GAO also visited border crossings, horse auctions and tribal lands. As you continue reading, keep in mind that GAO’s mandate from Congress was to study the above three topics–and only those topics–for purposes of the current report.
What information can the Horse Industry obtain from the study?
Regardless of the cause, the study confi rms what many of us suspected: that horse welfare has declined across the U.S. since 2007, and that more horses are abandoned and investigations of neglect and horse seizures have increased. T e report points up some shortcomings that many of us know about already, particularly the lack of verifi able information about the number of unwanted horses in the U.S., and the wel- fare of horses that become unwanted. While
the study included eight and one-half pages of mostly anecdotal information from the many parties interviewed by the GAO, the study could have had a greater impact if more em- pirical evidence were available. T e Maryland Horse Council is actively working on a method of collecting data from animal welfare organi- zations, state and local governments and other horse industry professionals and organizations, to measure the state of horse welfare here in Maryland on an ongoing basis. If you wish to participate in this eff ort, please contact Vicki Carson of the MHC Unwanted Horse Proj- ect (vcarson@fl yingchesterfi
eldfarm.com), or Margaret Rizzo, administrator of the Maryland Horse Council (
admin@mdhorsecouncil.org). T e study estimates that the economic down- turn since 2007 has caused an overall decrease of 4-5% in the sale price of all horses nation- wide. While the study indicates that the ces- sation of horse slaughter has not aff ected the price of high-end horses, lower-end horse sale prices have dropped 8-21% as a result of the prohibition on domestic slaughter. T e lowest- priced horses represented the largest percent- age decline in value. In addition, there was a signifi cant increase in the number of low-end horses placed on the market. T e study asserts that cessation of domestic slaughter has not signifi cantly reduced the num-
ber of horses going to slaughter. According to the study, the number of horses exported for slaughter in 2010 was roughly the same as the number of horses slaughtered in the U.S. imme- diately prior to cessation of domestic slaughter. T e study points out some signifi cant con-
fl icts between various regulations and pieces of legislation that ultimately have unintended but harmful consequences for the more than 100,000 horses currently being exported for slaughter each year. T e study confi rms that horses headed for slaughter are being trans- ported much longer distances than pre-2007. So long as horse export for slaughter continues, important changes are urgently needed to en- sure compliance and enforcement of the mini- mum standards of care for horses transported to slaughter, for which USDA is responsible. T e GAO does not take a position on horse slaughter per se, but does take the position that the current approach of prohibiting domestic slaughter by denying funding for horse inspec- tions year by year is not the way to go. GAO recommends that Congress consider taking a stronger stand one way or the other to either re- instate domestic horse slaughter and appropriate funds accordingly or ban horse slaughter alto- gether, including export of horses for slaughter. Easier said than done… but at least they said it. continued...
12 | THE EQUIERY | AUGUST 2011
800-244-9580 |
www.equiery.com
837466-110811
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96