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Oklahoma lifts 50-year-old ban on horse slaughter for meat

Oklahoma governor signs bill to allow horses to be slaughtered for meat in the state

By , Farms.com

Despite opposition by animal activists, Oklahoma’s Gov. Mary Fallin signed a bill on Friday that will allow facilities to process and export horse meat.

The move marks a 50-year-old ban on horse slaughter in Oklahoma. Instead of shipping horses destined for slaughter out of the country to places like Mexico and Canada, which is often argued to be a humane alternative for aging or starving horses, facilities will now be allowed to operate within the state.

The legislation received bipartisan support in both the state House and Senate and was backed by agricultural groups including the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and American Farmers.

Opponents to the bill including the Humane Society of the United States were disappointed that the bill passed. The group also notes that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has recently received an application for horse slaughter inspection permits from a meat processing company in Washington, Oklahoma.

The new law is set to take effect Nov. 1, 2013.


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In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. David Rosero from Iowa State University explores the critical aspects of fat quality and oxidation in swine diets. He discusses how different types of lipids affect pig performance and provides actionable insights on managing lipid oxidation in feed mills. Don’t miss this episode—available on all major platforms.

Highlight quote: "Increasing levels of oxidized fats in swine diets reduced the efficiency of feed utilization, increased mortality, and led to more pigs being classified as culls, reducing the number of full-value pigs entering the finishing barns."

Meet the guest: Dr. David Rosero / davidrosero is an assistant professor of animal science at Iowa State University. His research program focuses on conducting applied research on swine nutrition and the practical application of smart farming. He previously served as the technical officer for The Hanor Company, overseeing nutrition, research, and innovation efforts.