SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Unified Equine has changed its mind about opening a horse-slaughter plant in Mountain Grove, Mo., according to an Associated Press report.

Sue Wallis, chief executive officer of the company, said a closed beef processing plant in western Missouri is now under consideration as the new location of the plant. Large horse populations nearby was one factor in the decision to switch sites; resident protests against the proposed facility were an additional issue.

Congress recently lifted a five-year-old ban on funding horse meat inspections in the US. As a result, horses may soon be slaughtered and processed again in the US for human consumption.