Recently the Montana legislature began debating the bill. HB 418 / Authorize investor owned livestock slaughter and processing plants, allows private horse-slaughtering plants to be built in Montana and offers them some protections from those who might challenge a plant’s license. It says a state court may not delay construction of a plant once the plant is licensed by the state, and it requires anyone challenging a plant’s permit to post a bond worth 20 percent of the construction costs. You can read more from the Billings Gazette: Horse-slaughter bill advances, Billings Gazette, March 18.
In addition, the Helena Independent-Record, http://www.helenair.com/, is running a poll about horse slaughter. The simple, yes-no poll asks, “Should horse-slaughtering plants be allowed in Montana?” According to Stan Weaver, president of the Montana Quarter Horse Association, the Humane Society of the U.S. e-mailed the poll to its members nation-wide.
For questions or comments, e-mail Kim Watson, editor Beef Today.
