Federal court upholds Illinois law banning horse slaughter

[gldstwmn]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...ck=1&cset=true

CHICAGO - A federal appeals court in Chicago has upheld an Illinois law that bans the slaughter of horses for human consumption.

Unless an appeal is filed, the ruling will force the closure of the Cavel (kuh-VEHL') International plant in DeKalb, the last horse slaughtering plant in the United States.

The meat is shipped to be eaten by diners overseas, except for a portion sold to U.S. zoos.

The state of Illinois banned that practice earlier this year, but the plant had been operating while the court of appeals made its decision.

The Cavel plant has operated in DeKalb for about 20 years, and plant officials say it slaughters about 1,000 horses a week.