Use of 'thoracic stick' in halal slaughter of bobby calves.
Throat cutting associated with halal slaughter of bobby calves fails to sever the vertebral arteries supplying the brain. Such slaughter may be inhumane due to calves recovering from the stun before permanent insensibility, due to blood loss, occurs. Interruption of the vertebral arteries may be achieved by severance of the brachiocephalic trunk or penetration of the heart by the use of a 'thoracic stick', an incision with a knife through the thoracic inlet.
The compatibility of modern slaughter techniques with Halal slaughter: A review of the aspects of “modern” slaughter methods that divide scholarly opinion within the Muslim community
The continuous expansion of the global halal meat market has attracted interest from governments, food business operators and the animal and meat science research fraternity. Despite this growing trend, and the enormous economic benefits associated with it, there is a lack of clarity regarding what is ‘authentic’ halal. Many Islamic jurists are reluctant to approve animal slaughter methods that were not practiced at the time of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed. Others insist that since Islam holds animal welfare in high regard, any modern method of slaughter that is shown to improve animal welfare without compromising on the basic requirements of halal slaughter can be approved for halal production. This paper highlights the aspects of modern slaughter that continues to divide scholarly opinion among Islamic jurists. It also examines the arguments put forward by opponents and proponents regarding the acceptability of modern slaughter techniques for halal slaughter.
Stunning and slaughter of sheep and calves in New Zealand.
Abstract The effects of various aspects of electrical stunning and slaughter were studied in more than 4,000 sheep and calves, the majority of which were being processed in different New Zealand meat export works. Electrical stunning must induce cardiac dysfunction to ensure that sheep and lambs do not regain sensibility during currently employed slaughter processes. Electrical stunning by both “head-to-back” and “head-to-leg” methods produces cardiac inhibition provided that electrodes are properly positioned and sufficient electrical current is applied. Electrocardiograms (ECG) of electrically stunned animals demonstrated that cardiac dysfunction can be readily detected by the use of stethoscope. The reactions of stunned and slaughtered animals to various nervous stimuli are unreliable determinants of insensibility. Slaughter of sheep, stunned by a “head only” method, by a lateral stab incision of the neck is unsatisfactory. In more than 14% of the animals the blood vessels were incised only on one side...