DeKALB | A decision in the Lone Star State could make Cavel International Inc. in DeKalb the lone horse-slaughter plant in the U.S.

Last Friday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in Texas ruled the slaughter of horses for meat is illegal. The decision could close the Beltex Corporation plant in Kaufman, and Dallas Crown Inc. plant in Fort Worth. The three businesses named in the case are appealing the decision and will remain open for the time being.

The closure of the Texas plants would make Cavel International Inc., 108 Harvestore Drive in DeKalb, the only horse-slaughter plant in the U.S.

Jim Tucker, general manager for Cavel International Inc, said he doesn’t know why the district attorney in Texas is working so hard to close the plants.

“It’s important to the horse industry these plants don’t close down,” Tucker said.

Jerry Finch, Habitat for Horses president, said he was shocked, amazed and very happy when he heard about the 5th Circuit Court decision.

“We’ve been wanting this for many years. Nobody was expecting it,” Finch said. “The slaughter houses are finding out the truth. They’re finding out we just don’t want them here.”

A bill to prohibit horse slaughter for human consumption is in Congress: H.R. 503 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 1, 2005. The House passed it 263-146 last August, and it is now waiting for a Senate vote.

Tucker said Cavel would not expand even if the Texas plants did close. He said because of the constant threat of legislation against his business, it would be an unsafe investment to expand. Tucker said there will be more pressure to shut down the Illinois plant after the circuit court decision.

Finch said he was confident the federal bill will be passed, but said there could still be problems.

“There are lots of ways they can put a kink in it. They won’t just pick up and walk away,” Finch said.

About 90,000 horses are slaughtered each year in U.S. plants. Cavel slaughters about 95 a day to be shipped to other countries as food, Tucker said.

“It is unrealistic to think 90,000 people would adopt horses each year,” Tucker said. “It’s terrible public policy.”

Tucker said Cavel gets most of its horses at auction for $300 to $500. He said slaughtered horses are unwanted, untrainable or on their way out.

“The horse owners don’t know they are going to slaughter. There should be a big sign saying the horses sold at auction may be slaughtered,” Finch said.

Finch said the best thing people can do to ban horse slaughter in the U.S. is to contact their representative in the House and their senators.

“I don’t want anyone eating my horse,” Finch said.