- Animal slaughter
Slaughter is the term used to describe the
kill ing andbutcher ing ofanimal s, usually forfood . Commonly it refers to killing and butchering of domesticlivestock ("tame animals").The animals most commonly slaughtered for food are
cattle (forbeef andveal ),sheep (for lamb and mutton),pig s (forpork ),horse s (forhorsemeat ), andfowl , largely chickens, turkeys, and ducks.Traditions and laws
Laws for ritual slaughter
Ritual slaughter of animals is also used for food production. Such slaughter is governed by various laws, most notably:
*Shechita - Jewish laws of slaughtering animals
*Dhabiha - Muslim laws of slaughtering animalsUnited States
In the
United States , theUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA) specifies the approved methods of livestock slaughter: [cite web | url=http://www.animallaw.info/administrative/adus9cfr313.htm | title= Humane Slaughter of Livestock Regulations (National Citation: 9 C.F.R. 313.1 - 90) | publisher=Animal Legal and Historical Center (regulations fromUSDA ) | year=2007];Chemical (
carbon dioxide ): This method is approved forsheep , calves andswine . The animal isasphyxia ted by the use of carbon dioxide gas.;Mechanical (captive bolt): This method is approved for sheep, swine,goat s, calves,cattle ,horse s,mule s, and other equines. A captive bolt stunner is applied to the livestock so as to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animals before they are butchered.;Mechanical (gunshot): This method is approved for cattle, calves, sheep, swine, goats, horses, mules, and other equines. The gun is used to render the animal immediately unconscious (and presumably dead) before butchering.;Electrical (stunning or slaughtering with electric current): This method is approved for swine, sheep, calves, cattle, and goats. The current applied is sufficient to ensure surgical anesthesia throughout the "bleeding" of the animal.Each of these methods is outlined in detail, and the regulations require that inspectors identify operations which cause undue "excitement and discomfort" of animals.
Operation
*
Slaughterhouse
*Ike jime , a Japanese method of slaughtering fish
*Pig slaughter
*Horse slaughter Criticism
The slaughter of animals is commonly opposed by proponents of
vegetarianism .References
ee also
*
Animal euthanasia
*Ritual slaughter ,Animal sacrifice External links
* [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-0.4/10049.html#section-32 Canada Agricultural Products Act R.S., 1985, c. 20 (4th Supp.)]
* [http://www.animallaw.info/administrative/adus9cfr313.htm Humane Slaughter of Livestock Regulations]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.