Horse Slaughter Capital, USA

Cavel International, located in DeKalb, Illinois, is one of only three horse slaughter plants in the U.S.A.
from WTVO Channel 17, Rockford, Illinois
story by Britton Follett
06-02-2004

Two years ago, Cavel International, a horse slaughtering plant in DeKalb, burned to the ground. Now, it's re-opening for business.

Cavel International is putting the final touches on the new plant that will slaughter horses for their meat.

"We didn't plan to specifically re-open today or the next day or whatever. We've been planning on rebuilding for a couple of years. This is just the end of that process," says Cavel General Manager James Tucker.

Cavel says, the doors will re-open very soon. Inside, the facility is designed to slaughter 100 horses a day. Cavel plans to bring 40 jobs to the area and purchase horses from thousands of people all over the region.

"We feel we've provided services to the horse industry for years and have been supported by the majority of the people in the horse industry," says Tucker.

The meat is shipped overseas, where it is eaten in countries like Italy, France, Germany and Belgium.

"It's the same cuts you would find in beef. All the meat is consumed," adds Tucker.

Now that it's back up and running, Cavel International is one of only three horse slaughtering plants nationwide.

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