USDA officials have approved the application for a New Mexico slaughterhouse to convert its cattle slaughtering facility to a horse slaughterhouse, making Valley Meat Co. the first U.S. company to process horsemeat in seven years. But the company's attorney, Blair Dunn, sees a tough road ahead for Valley Meat. He says,
"This is very far from over. The company is going to plan to begin operating in July. But with the potential lawsuits and the USDA — they have been dragging their feet for a year — so to now believe they are going to start supplying inspectors, we're not going to hold our breath."