Religious Slaughter Flashcards
Article 4 4.
In the case of animals subject to particular methods of slaughter prescribed by religious rites, the requirements of paragraph 1 shall not apply provided that the slaughter takes place in a slaughterhouse.
What religious (non-stun) slaughter methods does the legislation describe?
Shechita - Jewish method for the food of Jews by a Jew who is licensed by the Rabbinical Commission and holds a certificate for that purpose.
Halal - Muslim method for the food of Muslims by a Muslim who hold a certificate for that purpose.
Attitudes to take in discussions regarding religious slaughter.
W/ sensitivity and respect for the humans involved.
W/ empathy and objectivity for the animals involved.
3 types of slaughter from a welfare perspective.
Slaughter WITHOUT pre-slaughter stunning for religious reasons.
Slaughter WITHOUT pre-slaughter stunning for technical or economic reasons.
Slaughter WITH pre-slaughter stunning.
Shechita.
According to law of the Torah, to be eaten, Kosher spp. must be slaughtered by a “Schochet”, a ritual slaughterer.
Since Jewish la prohibits causing any pain to animals, slaughtering has to be effected in such a way that unconsciousness is instantaneous and death occurs almost instantaneously.
Meat not deemed kosher is termed “Treife”.
Do not eat pigs.
- Define Trief.
- Define Terefah.
- Define porging.
- the Yiddish word for any form of non-kosher food.
- a member of a kosher spp. of mammal or bird, disqualified from being considered kosher, due to pre-existing mortal injuries or physical defects.
- Forbidden to consume certain parts of the animal, such as certain fats and the sciatic nerves from the legs.
What can Muslim followers not consume?
Pork or pork by products.
Animals that were dead prior to slaughtering.
Animals not slaughtered properly or not slaughtered in the name of Allah.
Blood and blood by-products.
Alcohol.
Carnivorous animals.
Birds of prey.
Land animals without external ears.
Halal = permissible.
Haram = forbidden.
Summary of Halal.
Stun or non-stun depend on authorities.
Some allow pre-slaughter stunning (head only electrical) as shown that stunning is recoverable and so bleeding is definitely cause of death.
Some allow post-cut stunning.
Some allow no stunning.
- animal must be restrained individually and must be eft for 20 seconds before moved.
– questionable for welfare.
Why do we restrain all animals slaughtered by non-stun slaughter?
For accurate and effective stunning and/or slaughter.
To minimise time taken.
For staff safety from injury.
Issues with restraint.
Injurious or stressful to get them into restraint.
Injurious and stressful in the restraint.
Length of time restrained before stunned or slaughtered.
Pain, fear or distress caused by physical activity of the animal in the restraint.
In terms of cattle restraint, what does UK law not allow?
Inversion of cattle.
- Must be restrained upright.
Law about when animal to be placed in restraint equipment?
Business operators shall ensure that animals are not placed in restraining equipment, until the person in charge of stunning or bleeding is ready to stun or bleed them as quickly as possible.
Law regarding back-up stunning?
Appropriate back-up stunning equipment is kept close to the restraining equipment for use in case of emergency and is immediately used where it is subjected to any avoidable pain, suffering or agitation or has any injuries or contusions.
Issues regarding the cut.
Is the knife the correct size and is it sharp?
Is the cut performed in ONE ACTION?
Does the animal react to the initial cut and increasing levels of pain during bleeding?
What is the severity of pain and how long does it last?
If there was pre-slaughter stunning, was the animal unconscious and will it die during unconsciousness?
Time to loss of cortical responsiveness?
Thoracic stick in cattle = 17s.
Neck stick in cattle = 55s.
Neck stick in calves = 60-70s.
- Neck sticks take longer to cause brain death due to vertebral arteries which continue to the brain and continue brain function for longer.
– also due to ‘ballooning’ of the carotid artery to stop bleeding.
Ventral neck cut in sheep = 14s.
