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Court decision allows Cavel to resume horse processing until its appeal can be heard.

Cherry Brieser-Stout, Prairie Farmer Editor

May 6, 2007

1 Min Read

Cavel International looks to be back in the business of processing horses this week, according to Jim Tucker, general manager of the DeKalb-based horse slaughtering plant. The plant will begin processing horses today, May 7, if a USDA inspector is available, Tucker said.

A split decision by the federal appeals court decision on May 1 allows the plant to resume operations until Cavel's appeal can be heard by the court.

The plant wanted to re-open last Thursday, but "USDA not able to give us an inspector," said Tucker. Tucker looks for a federal meat inspector to be available this week.

Called the nation's last functioning horse slaughtering facility, Cavel was shut down and 50 employees were laid off in late March after Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the USDA did not follow proper procedures for setting up the inspection fee program.
Tucker said he's being bombarded by media calls, while the nation closely watches developments in Illinois on the horse slaughter issue.

In Springfield, a bill to ban horse slaughter for human consumption passed the Illinois House last month and is now in the Senate public health committee. A federal bill to ban horse slaughter is also pending in Congress.

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