SPRINGFIELD - A ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption was approved Wednesday by the Illinois Senate and needs only the signature of Gov. Rod Blagojevich to go into immediate effect.

The move leaves 48 employees at the nation's last horse slaughter plant in DeKalb awaiting word on the future of their jobs.

John Cullerton, D-Chicago, said there is no reason to expect that jobs should be lost at the plant, owned by Cavel International.

"There were two facilities (horse slaughter plants) in Texas," he said. "Those facilities were closed down and I have been told that, within two weeks, they reopened as a facility to slaughter hogs. No jobs were lost; the same thing can happen up in DeKalb."

State Sen. Brad Burzynski, R-Clare, who represents the DeKalb area, criticized those with "romanticized views" of animals and said the state would realize no benefits by closing the plant.

"There are no safety issues, and there are no health issues," he said. "What is the good of closing this facility to the state of Illinois? What can be gained?"

A man identifying himself as the general manager at Cavel offered no comment on the matter.

Several lawmakers poked fun at the measure, referring to the 1950s talking horse sitcom "Mr. Ed" and making neighing sounds before finally passing the ban by a 39-16 vote.

The vote comes after film star Bo Derek visited the Capitol earlier this spring to lobby for the ban. Among her stops was Blagojevich's office, in which she secured his support for the ban, said Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch.

"The governor told Bo he would sign it," said Rausch.

If Blagojevich does so, it will mark the end of a process that began three years ago when a similar proposal passed the Senate but failed in the House.

Along the way, the ban has received support from many who think of horses as companion animals, akin to dogs and cats, and not fit for human consumption.

Meanwhile opposition has come from pro-business lawmakers and from some unlikely sources, including the American Veterinary Association and the Horseman's Council of Illinois who worry about horse overpopulation.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, said disagreement on the issue illustrates the difference between downstate and Chicago lawmakers.

"Up there in the city, you don't have a lot of horses and stuff running around there," said Forby. "But where I come from, down south, we have a lot of them."

"This bill is wrong," Forby said.

Blackwell Thomas can be reached at Blackwell.Thomas@lee.net or at 789-0865.