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SLAUGHTER BOUND With hightened awareness in the humane community and expanded media coverage, the public has become concerned with the plight of equines. During the last five years hundreds of individuals and organizations have become actively involved in the prevention of abuse. While some organizations accept for care, rehabilitation or retirement only those animals which are donated by owners or released to them from law enforcement agencies, many are purchasing horses, mules and burros from auctions or livestock purchasers often called "killer buyers." In most states livestock dealers are required to be registered with the Department of Food and Agriculture. Most states require dealers to be bonded. The list of all licensed livestock dealers is a matter of public record and available to you. These required registrations become very important if you have a complaint about illegal activity including cruelty involving a livestock dealer or killer buyer. It is advisable that you research the laws regarding equines bound for slaughter and livestock dealers that apply in your state. If you are not sure which public agency regulates livestock dealers, auctions, etc., you may want to start with your State Veterinarian. The killer buyer usually purchases horses from local private parties or from livestock auctions. The owner is often unaware that his or her animal is being purchased for slaughter. While some dealers are honest, many will go to great lengths to disguise their intent. Some states have laws or pending legislation which require dealers to inform owners that the animal will or may be sold for slaughter. Livestock auctions are not required to inform sellers that their animal may be purchased by a killer buyer. Some killer buyers work independently, while others are agents for a specific slaughterhouse. Slaughterhouses purchase equines by the body build, size, condition and body weight. The price per pound varies with the market demand for both human and pet food consumption. Although the price per pound may vary from day to day, the categories from which the price of an animal is determined remain consistent and are used by all slaughterhouses. For individuals or organizations purchasing these animals it is important to understand the financial makeup of slaughter bound equines. It can be expected that the livestock dealer will expect to make a profit over what he or she would normally make by selling to the slaughter yard. The sad fact is many equine rescue groups are purchasing slaughter bound horses, mules, and burros for as much as 10 times what the killer buyer or livestock dealer could make if the animal was sold to a slaughterhouse. Example: An 800 pound Arabian in good condition (neck blends smoothly into the body, withers rounded over spinous processes, back level, fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy, ribs cannot be visually distinguished but can be easily felt, and shoulder blends smoothly into the body) but not fleshy (fat deposited along the neck, fat deposited along the withers, may have positive crease down the back, fat around the tailhead is soft, individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filing between ribs with fat, and fat deposited behind shoulder) most likely would be rated at $.24-30 per pound or $144.00-$240.00 when sold to a slaughter yard. If you are purchasing an animal from a livestock dealer, check with the slaughter yard nearest to you (see below list) to determine the current prices. Knowing how much the slaughter yard is paying for each grade or category of equine, you can determine what is a fair price to pay a killer buyer or livestock dealer for an animal you are rescuing. The following is a typical example of the prices slaughter yards pay for equines. FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
FOR PET FOOD CONSUMPTION (all burros or donkeys are in this category)
It is important to understand that many people would not sell their equines to killer buyers or take them to a livestock auction if they were aware that horse rescue groups would be willing to take them. A simple ad in your local paper could save your group thousands of dollars which would be better spent on rehabilitation and care rather than increasing the profit killer buyers are currently making off equine rescue. |
This article copyright 1997 Barbara Eustis-Cross.