Wyoming livestock authorities can slaughter stray or feral livestock, including horses, and sell their meat under a measure signed into law by Gov. Dave Freudenthal on Tuesday. HB 122, the Disposal of Livestock Act, expands the Wyoming Livestock Board’s animal disposal options, as well as allowing the board to continue to offer these animals for sale.

Meat from processed horses will be sold to prisons and other state institutions. A task force will establish horse processing plant protocol, said bill sponsor Rep. Sue Wallis.

Wyoming is the second state to encourage horse processing plant development in the past year. A Montana measure facilitating privately-owned horse slaughter plant development became law in May 2009.

Similar legislation is pending in Missouri. HB 1747 establishes plant operation and meat inspection regulations in that state. The measure also requires plant operators to pay registration and processing fees to underwrite meat inspection costs