Horse Slaughter Bill Clears Oklahoma House And Senate

Two separate bills to end Oklahoma’s ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption have sailed through the House and Senate.

The Senate passed a bill 38-6 on Wednesday, while the House measure was approved on an 82-14 vote.

The sponsor of the House measure, Representative Skye McNiel, says the bill would allow a horse slaughtering plant to open in the state and provide a humane option for unwanted, aging horses. The Bristow Republican says the sale of horse meat for consumption in the United States would still be banned, but that it could be sent overseas.

Opponents say a slaughtering plant is no humane way to dispose of a horse and that the bills are being fast-tracked through the Legislature before opposition mounts.