Martinez Asks Feds To Stop Horse Slaughterhouse

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A spokesman for New Mexico Attorney General Gary King said his office so far has found no legal basis for stopping a Roswell company from opening the nation's first slaughterhouse for horses since 2007.

But, a lawyer has been assigned to continue looking into the matter. Gov. Susana Martinez says she'll send a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking it to deny Valley Meat Co.'s request for inspections that would allow it to operate.

A USDA spokeswoman says the agency is reviewing an application for inspections at a horse slaughter facility from a New Mexico company.

Horse slaughter has effectively been blocked since Congress withheld funds for USDA inspections of horse meat plants in 2006. But a recently passed agriculture bill provides the money.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.