Shechita Crisis: British Veterinary Association Wants All UK Meat Stunned Before Slaughter

"Our position is clear - all animals should be stunned before slaughter and if that's not possible the meat should be labelled as not stunned…By ensuring that all meat from animals that are not stunned only enters the specific communities that it is targeted at, we can make a significant difference." 2.1 million UK animals are killed annually using Shechita slaughter methods, of which none are pre-stunned, and an estimated 70% of those cattle slaughtered enter the non-Jewish market.

 

BVA calls for total pre-stunned slaughter
Gemma Mackenzie • Farmers Weekly Interactive

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has reinforced its opposition to slaughter without pre-stunning on welfare grounds, amid calls for meat to be labelled as stunned or non-stunned.

Speaking at the 2011 BVA Animal Welfare Foundation discussion forum, former president Bill Reilly said the association opposes slaughter methods without stunning because it causes the animal distress and pain.

"There are no official stats in the UK as to how many animals are slaughtered without pre-stunning but our position is clear - all animals should be stunned before slaughter and if that's not possible the meat should be labelled as not stunned to allow the consumer to have the choice," said Mr Reilly.

"By ensuring that all meat from animals that are not stunned only enters the specific communities that it is targeted at, we can make a significant difference."

UK abattoirs follow the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 which allow animals to be slaughtered without stunning for Jewish (Shechita) and Muslim (Halal) slaughter.

Mr Reilly said an estimated 2.1 million animals are killed annually using Shechita slaughter methods, of which none are pre-stunned, and an estimated 70% of those cattle slaughtered enter the non-Jewish market.

He said the situation is less clear in the Halal market because stunning is sometimes allowed so long as the animal is not killed by the stunning process.

"In 2001, Halal meat had an 11% share of the market but only 3% of the population - now 25% of the UK market is Halal but we don't know if that animal was stunned or otherwise."

Last month, the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety committee voted in favour of new labelling regulations requiring meat to be labelled as stunned or non-stunned. The new measures will be put forward for full approval by the parliament in July.

Comments

[Yoel Mechanic]

I'm wondering what the halachic issues are with stunning before slaughter. A good analysis of this issue would be useful. I have also found some interesting propaganda on chabad.org on this, such as

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/222247/jewish/Is-There-a-Health-Risk-with-Stunning.htm

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/222246/jewish/Whats-Wrong-with-Stunning.htm

I think much greater depth is needed, and I am not sure that chabad.org should feel mandated to keep everything at a surface level.

[What kind of goyishe name is Harold z"l?]

@YM - Your second link makes it quite clear that stunning is not permitted halachically. Whether it is true or not or that everyone is in agreement does not mean it is kept on a "surface level". I also wonder if vegetables feel any pain as they are plucked from the ground. The animals don't care as they graze. Perhaps it is divine retribution.

[jj]

you can thank rubashkin for this new development.

[seymour]

Shechita Crisis,

not sure that is true one just has to do the labeling that the animal is not stunned I am sure there are enough buyer who simply do not care and will buy that meat

[effie]

It's nice to see Bardot's photo pop-up. She really was a beauty.

[Yoel Mechanic]

The crisis has to do with the reality and perception of the kosher industry. If Prof. Grandin is correct, all one need do is follow her advice and then make the case that kosher slaughter was done with the extra care and is as good as stunning and the crisis will be averted. The key is to *first* follow her advice, and then *second* to mount the PR campaign.

I've said this before, and will say again: there are moderate voices within the Chareidi world. One should dialogue with them.

[seymour]

The crisis has to do with the reality and perception of the kosher industry. If Prof. Grandin is correct, all one need do is follow her advice and then make the case that kosher slaughter was done with the extra care and is as good as stunning and the crisis will be averted. The key is to *first* follow her advice, and then *second* to mount the PR campaign.

I've said this before, and will say again: there are moderate voices within the Chareidi world. One should dialogue with them.

Posted by: Yoel Mechanic | May 17, 2011 at 03:14 PM

you have a point, but no cheridie wants to listen to her they think she is an antisemitic. why asuv sone l'yakov that is all they need and they will not take advice from a goy regarding any matter that remotely involves halacha since they know better than any goy since they are getting their knowledge from god

[Yosef ben Matitya]

I think much greater depth is needed, and I am not sure that chabad.org should feel mandated to keep everything at a surface level.

oh boy, them? they have other issues to clear first such as their commitment to monotheism.

[Yosef ben Matitya]

why doesn't the EU solve first the issue of the french consuming horses first?

[David]

There is no problem with kosher slaughter (or other modern slaughter methods) when they are done in a technically correct manner. What is necessary is a commitment to correct procedure whether by conventional methods or shechita.

I'm sure shechita would not be in the radar as much as it is now if it were not for the efforts of Rubashkin and the frumma support for his operation and the cruel way the animals were treated there.

[moshe]

What about banning hunting in England? What would the aristocracy do for entertainment then?

I smell a rat

[seymour]

What about banning hunting in England? What would the aristocracy do for entertainment then?

I smell a rat

Posted by: moshe | May 17, 2011 at 07:53 PM

very good point

[Yoel Mechanic]

>you have a point, but no cheridie wants to listen to her they think she is an antisemitic.

Let me emphasize: there exist moderate voices in the Chareidi world. It is natural to feel discouraged and focus on the negative, but that urge must be resisted. Focus your attention on how to seek out the moderate voices, work grass roots, and keep the dialog channels open.

[Yoel Mechanic]

Let me be even more BLUNT: the incessant complaining and mockery actually strengthens those who are unreasonable: they get the attention and energy is drained from the moderate voices within the Chareidi world. How many are these moderate voices? Well, go and find out. On the net, more likely to find moderates at torahmusings.com and rationalistjudaism.com

Let me explain something about politics: it is far easier to polarize people and increase tension than to depolarize and bring people together. but you gotta try. those who want to depolarize to increase their power have an easy time: just mock the other side, have copious name calling, avoid logical argument. It should be easy to see who are polarizers and who are depolarizers.

[seymour]

>you have a point, but no cheridie wants to listen to her they think she is an antisemitic.

Let me emphasize: there exist moderate voices in the Chareidi world. It is natural to feel discouraged and focus on the negative, but that urge must be resisted. Focus your attention on how to seek out the moderate voices, work grass roots, and keep the dialog channels open.

Posted by: Yoel Mechanic | May 17, 2011 at 08:51 PM

I said that since i was talking to some satmar chasedeim who said she is an antisemitic. I said she has said nice things about schechita and had inspected other kosher plants and no issues.

she only had an issue the way SMR was doing it, and even then is was the process before and after the shechtha that was the problem.

their answer was she is antisemitic anyway.

The best way would be if one of the kosher slaughter houses consults with her what needs to be done to make the plant humane or as humane as a plant that employs stunning.

do what needs to be done or have her speak to the politicians and says a plant that implements this procedures
is as humane as a plant that does stunning.

from her writing she seems to be a reasonable person and may be willing to design a plant like that and talk to politicians.

Then the kosher plants that comply with her suggestion do not have to label their food and the others to bad will have to label their meats.

If somebody is willing to listen on the kosher food side

[Yoel Mechanic]

If somebody is willing to listen on the kosher food side

Posted by: seymour | May 17, 2011 at 09:34 PM
==========================================
seymour; sounds good to me.

[masortiman]

Is this really about haredim, or kashrut. Seems to me the attackers are focused on Halal meat.

Maybe what is needed is for the jewish and muslim communities in the UK to work together, both to explore the grandin approach to slaughter, and to make clear to the public both the possibilities for humane non-stunned slaughter, and the difficulties that bans on nonstunned slaughter create.

This could have the side benefit of advancing shalom/salaam.

[seymour]

If somebody is willing to listen on the kosher food side

Posted by: seymour | May 17, 2011 at 09:34 PM
==========================================
seymour; sounds good to me.

Posted by: Yoel Mechanic | May 18, 2011 at 12:57 AM

I wonder if you know somebody maybe approach them.

it could be a win win for everybody.

[kate]

I hope I"m not intruding. I am not Jewish. I do care greatly about the manner in which an animal is killed to be eaten. And I think I am a reasonable person.

I am interested in knowing more about jewish methods and traditions but it is very very difficult for someone like me to learn and understand because the jewish communities who live so near to me and who follow different practices are so reluctant to explain or describe what they do or why. (Only tonight on British TV there was a one-hour documentary about the Hasidic jews in an area of London but the program was next to useless in helping people like me learn more because none of the community would take part in the program - such a shame). To those here who are advocating dialogue - I wholeheartedly agree with you. We want to learn and understand and see how we can benefit from your experiences and perspective.

On the question of how to kill animals I can only offer these observations - most 'conventional' slaughterhouses are appalling as the animals being killed are panicking, are dying in terror and too slowly and, quite aside from the animal welfare issues, the meat tastes worse as a result. Only a few slaughterhouses are so organised that the animals are calm and feel no pain. I - and many others who have learned of what really happens - much prefer the latter. Stunning animals seems a way of limiting the animals suffering, especially if the kill is bodged.

My only knowledge of how kosher meat is killed came from a television program which showed a skilled professional killing the animal while it remained calm and free of pain. I could only admire the method used as being very effective and providing excellent animal welfare. I would be very happy if all the animals I ate had died so 'well' and to me it seemed no stunning was necessary.

I suspect that if people like me knew more about kosher practices we could learn much from them and might even start to advocate adopting them for the benefit of the animal.

Please let people like me know more and understand more and let responsible, sincere program makers make documentaries which will show us what you do and what your reasons are for doing things. I truly believe you have nothing to lose by doing so.

[Shmarya]

My only knowledge of how kosher meat is killed came from a television program which showed a skilled professional killing the animal while it remained calm and free of pain.

Unfortunates, while that could be the norm for kosher slaughter, right now it is not the norm.

[Jeff]

Unfortunates, while that could be the norm for kosher slaughter, right now it is not the norm.

Posted by: Shmarya | May 18, 2011 at 07:25 PM

Shmarya, when I told my nephew that there was footage from Agriprocessors of cattle having their tracheae torn out while still conscious, he told me (and I'm sure this comes as no surprise to you) that if they'd been schechted, they were halakhically dead. Whether or not they were still moving, or even still conscious, was irrelevant.

The bullshit they get these kids to swallow is unbelievable.