Now That You Mention It.........

Let’s Call This Entry:

Now That You Mentioned It

One of our new found friends has so kindly brought to my attention I am using “false” USDA numbers. I suppose it would depend on which anti-slaughter website you are reading. The numbers I quoted in the commentary about the 41 mustangs came from http://equineprotectionnetwork.com/slaughter/19802002.htm. This site has a full listing of weekly head counts for each year from 1980 to 2002 I used only the totals in the commentary.

If you go to The Equine Protection web site containing the page updated 2-23-2007 you will find

1995	109, 225
1994	107, 209
1993	167, 310
1992	246, 400
1991	276, 900
1990	345,700
1989	348, 400
1988	331, 000
1987	275, 700
1986	202, 100
1985	128, 300
1984	105, 300
1983	99, 300
1982	149, 600
1981	219, 300
1980	274, 500

If you happen to pull up the same sites page for 2-16-2006 you find this set of numbers. Sorry I missed copying the 1995 number for this example but you can still grab concept.

1994	109,353
1993	184,320
1992	243,585
1991	236,467
1990	315,192
1989	342,877
1988	300,263
1987	246,505
1986	170,576
1985	143,423
1984	105,300
1983	99, 300
1982	149,600
1981	219,300

The Equine Protection Network should find a set of numbers they like and stick with them. Using three different sets of numbers makes them look “uneducated”. On the upside I have something to write about, poke fun at, and legitimately question. It was even brought to me gift wrapped.

If you happen to look on http://www.manesandtailsorganization.org/stats.htm you will find

this set of statistics which only go back to 1985 but again I think you can get my drift.

Year	Region	State	Commodity	Period	Livestock Slaughter
					Federally Inspected (FI)
					Head
1985	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	128300
1986	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	202100
1987	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	275700
1988	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	331000
1989	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	348400
1990	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	345700
1991	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	276900
1992	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	246400
1993	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	167310
1994	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	107029
1995	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	109225
1996	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	103687
1997	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	87154
1998	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	72120
1999	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	62813
2000	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	47134
2001	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	56332
2002	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	42312
2003	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	50564
2004	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	65976
2005	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 31	94,011
2006	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Dec 30	105,835
2007	All States	US	Equine	Jan 1 - Sep 22

I didn’t bother to go to the actual USDA site since it looks as though the actual numbers haven’t been all that important until I brought them up.

Bottom line, if I am bold enough to quote statistics researched them somewhere and saved the research.

Now that you mention it there have been quite a few numbers I’ve run across over the years I’ve been in this debate that vary from site to site or day to day.

R.H 1