From: eerbl@cc.newcastle.edu.au
Subject: Kosher Slaughter: some definitive answers
Organization: University of Newcastle, AUSTRALIA
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 12:11:47 GMT
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NNTP-Posting-Host: sol.ctr.columbia.edu


From:
_International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems_
"Problmes with Kosher Slaughter"
(1980) 1: 313-337
Author: Ms Temple Grandin

Also reprinted in _Livestock Handling from Farm to Slaughter_
(1983) Australian Government Publishing Service

                                
Ms Temple Grandin works as a consultant to the animal slaughter industry.
She is quite definitely not a supporter of animals' rights.
What follows here is some extracts from that article. If you need the primary
references, just ask. 

Here are some other titles by the same author:
(references are given for the same journal)

"Livestock Behaviour as Related to Handling Facilities Design"
(1980) 1: 33-52

"Designs and Specifications for Livestock Handling in Slaughter Plants"
(1980) 1: 178-200

"Mechanical Electrical and Anaesthetic Stunning Methods for Livestock"
(1980) 1: 242-263


 Extracts from: "Problems with Kosher Slaughter"
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[...]


 Throat cutting without stunning
 -------------------------------

   There has been a great deal of controversy over whether or not it is
painfull to cut the throat of a conscious animal as it is done in kosher and
Muslim slaughter, and in the slaughter of lambs in New Zealand and Australia.
While the shackling and hoisting of a conscious animal is totally unacceptable,
the use of a restrainer does not resolve the question of throat-cutting.

   Nangeroni and Kenett (1963) conducted a careful study with the EEG to
determine how long different animals reamin conscious after they have had their
throats cut by the kosher method (Table 1). Later studies, also using EEG
techniques, confirmed that sheep are permanantly insensible 3 to 10 seconds
after their throats are cut (Blackmore et al, 1979). Baldwin (1971)
demonstrated that it took 8-10 seconds for goats to become unconscious after
the carotid arteries were tied off. It is possible that tying the carotid
arteries could prolong the time to the onset of unconsciouness because the
blood pressure would not necessarily drop. Small, one-week old calves may
remain conscious (as determined by the EEG) for up to 100 seconds after having
their throats cut kosher style. "In contrast to sheep, the vertebral artery in
the calf directly contributes to all parts of the brain" and this delays
cerebral anoxia (Blackmore et al, 1979). In addition, calves may remain
conscious for longer than mature cattle due to their greater tolerance for
anoxia (Baldwin, 1971).

Table 1 - Number of seconds after the throat is cut to the onset of
unconsciousness and cortical death as determined by the EEG

                  Sheep      Calves     Cattle
Unconsciousness   3.3-6.2    4.4-6.9    10
Cortical Death    20.8-35.4  18.8-139.2 120-15


[...]

 The Humane Concerns - Shackling and Hoisting
 --------------------------------------------

   Aproximately two million heavy beef steers, one million sheep and half a
million calves are slaughtered annually for the kosher trade an the United
States. This represents about 5% of the heavy steers and mature cattle
slaughtered in the United States. [...] Many of the kosher plants suspend fully
conscious animals upside down by a chain attached to one hind foot. [...] Amost
all calves and lambs are shackled and hoisted. In fact, one of the reasons why
kosher slaughter was exempted from the 1978 Humane Slaughter Act was that
humane restraining equipment was not available for sheep and calves.

   The proceedure invovled in shackling and hoisting is as follows: Each animal
enters a narrow stall equipped with a moveable bottom which is tilted to cause
the animal to trip and fall down, whereupon a chain is slung round on back
foot. The bellowing, writhing steer is then yanked up in the air. [Notes about
he physical damage caused and the pain involved] At some plants up to five
steers or calves can be hanging up at any one time waiting to have their
throats cut.

[...]


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- Russel
Newsgroups: rec.food.veg