Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 11/4/13

Rains Natural Meats in Missouri, Valley Meat in New Mexico and Responsible Transportation in Iowa — the nation's three proposed horse slaughter plants — are free to go online now that a temporary order that blocks horse slaughter has expired.

In a ruling issued late Friday, U.S. District Judge Christina Armijo in Albuquerque dismissed a suit brought by Front Range Equine Rescue, the Humane Society of the United States and other animal rights groups, which claimed that the government did not adequately study the issue of horse slaughter before granting permits to two companies, and denied a permanent injunction that sought to prevent Valley Meat Co. from reopening its facility in Roswell, N.M.

An attorney representing Valley Meat Co. and Missouri-based Rain Natural Meats told The Los Angeles Times that the companies could resume operations as early as this week.

HSUS said it would appeal the decision; on Friday, the groups also filed for an extension of the order blocking horse slaughter.

The court issued the restraining order in August to allow courts to hear out horse-slaughter opponents who say that horses often are treated with drugs that are considered unsafe for human consumption.

The three facilities are interested in the option to slaughter horses, whose meat would be shipped to markets where the meat is a popular dish, primarily in Europe and Asia. Horse-slaughter proponents point out that thousands of horses are shipped to slaughter in Canada and Mexico since the last U.S. horse slaughter facility closed in 2007.

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