What Is The Most Humane Way To Kill An Animal

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ETHICAL CONUNDRUMS

I've been told that killing animals for food using halal (Islamic) or Kosher (Jewish) rules is less tramatic for the animal. Is this true?

David Dreaming Bear, Horesethief Canyon, California USA

I tin't speak for Halal slaughter, but I exercise know about Kosher slaughter of animals. The "Shochet" - slaughterer - uses a special knife which has to be incredibly sharp and completely smooth (whatever nicks in the blade might tear the animal'south flesh on the way downwardly and cause pain). The knife should be able to cut smoothly and cleanly through the neck. The cut is made in a specific identify in the neck, and although death isn't instantaneous (no method of slaughter is), the animal loses consciousness immediately due to the sudden drop of blood pressure in the head. Consummate death results shortly afterwards. As a comparison, let's look at some other methods of slaughter which are used. The "Captive Bolt Gun". Imagine a normal gun, only the bullet has a string attached to it and then it flies out of the barrel, but tin can be reset and re-loaded again leaving nothing behind. At present take an animal, printing this up confronting its skull and fire. Commodities goes into skull and pulled out over again. Requires 4-v shots normally to crusade complete decease, during which animal is in agony. Electrocution. Allow'due south compare this with human executions in the electric chair. There have been cases where people existence killed in the chair take caught fire and had fume coming from their heads while still showing signs of life. Witnesses take been ill from the stench of called-for flesh. Some researchers have said that being killed by electrocution would impale you by oxygen starvation (you couldn't breathe due to paralysis from the electricity), while at the aforementioned time being burnt alive. Then much for a painless death! Equally long as people wish to eat animals (don't get me wrong, I'm a steak lover), we have to kill them kickoff. And I truly believe that "Shechitah" - the method of slaughter for Kosher food - is the least painful for the creature concerned.
Benjy Arnold, London UK

I somehow dubiousness that slitting the throat and letting the animal bleed to death every bit required for Halal meat is 'less traumatic' than traditional slaughter.
Sean DeLoughry, Dublin Ireland

Err, y'all practice know what those methods are, don't you? Personally, I'd have idea a deadening death by blood loss to be rather worse than a one-shot blow to the temporal lobe, only I'g but guessing hither; I've no want to find out.
Iain Lambert, Slough UK

A friend spent some fourth dimension as a slaughterman in the early 80s, and he explained at the fourth dimension that kosher slaughter was more painful, messy and risky than the standard method. In the normal process, the beast is instantaneously stunned by the bolt through the skull to render it unconscious. It is and so suspended by a hind leg and a pocket-sized abrupt knife is inserted to sever just the carotid artery in the cervix. The bolt doesn't kill the animate being considering the heart is needed to go along chirapsia for a while to miscarry as much claret as possible to avoid later infections. The beast dies painlessly from the blood loss. In contrast, the kosher method was to hoist the creature upwardly by a hind leg whilst fully conscious (no other intervention being allowed), and the pharynx was cut in a broad ceremonial gash which severed not only the carotid avenue merely likewise the jugular vein. The distressed beast often reacted violently to this. Information technology also increased the hazard of infection, as the jugular vein would carry any contaminants from the cutting back towards the middle for re-apportionment throughout the body (and into the muscle tissues) before death. This seems likely to be the existent situation, since if the Kosher method were better (in purely clinical terms) either for the beast or for the consumer, all meat would be Kosher.
Tim Waterfield, Cambridge England

"since if the Kosher method were ameliorate (in purely clinical terms) either for the beast or for the consumer, all meat would be Kosher."??!! Tim, have you accidentally wandered onto the Guardian site from fluffy bunny land or something? Obviously the interests of the food industry decide what method of slaughter is used. I'd imagine that criteria like price come up style above the interests of animals or consumers.
Sophia Collins, London UK

Would YOU rather exist shot in the head, or take your throat slit?
Wraith, Salford, United kingdom

A friend did a documentary on slaughterhouses in the early on ninety's. He saw cows on an electrical grid recieve a jolt. Workers and then went through with hammers to fustigate in the skulls of those not expressionless. He instantly became a vegetarian. Kosher methods were created with the all-time interests of the animals in listen. (Taking equally a given that man'south status at the top of the food chain does not impart the right to cause extra suffering.) The pocketknife must be free of nicks so that the blade moves as fast and cleanly as possible. At that place may be more than humane ways to impale a moo-cow or chicken, only I dubiousness they are price constructive from a mass-production standpoint. Kosher meat is double or triple the price of not-kosher. Maybe y'all could observe a rancher who would be willing to let you kill a cow as gently as possible (wait til it'southward asleep? or give a gentle sedative?). But from a practical standpoint, an animal slaughtered kosher is probable to take suffered less than the non-kosher ane.
Lauri Reizes, Los Angeles USA

Arguing over which methods of killing are more humane seems a fleck pointless since the only ones who could tell you are dead.
Seth, Edinburgh

studies have been conducted in which monitors were placed on the brain of a moo-cow existence slaughtered using shechita (kosher slaughter) and ti turns out that it is acttually 100% painless. another intersting note is that 2500 years ago, when the rules of kosher were made, it was said that the animate being must have split hooves and chew it's cud. interestingly, now 2500 years afterwards we know a nifty deal of bilology and it turns out that the only species of animals that have divide hooves and chew their cud, likewise simply happen to have a certain artery that goes directly to their encephalon, as opposed to their middle as in all other animals (including humans). when this vein is cut it will be a painless death, considering the animate being volition exist instantly uncosious, whereas if y'all tried to slaughter any other beast in this method it would cause alot of suffereing. so, to answer that question "would Yous like to exist shot in the head or have your throat cut?" well, i beingness human would prefer a shot in the head for the least painless death, but if i was a cow, or whatsoever other brute with carve up hooves and a cud, i'd be all for the throat slitting for the painless decease. also, to clear up the misconseption well-nigh the brute all the same beingness alive while haemorrhage to decease with shcita - this is true that the animal may still be living, simply with the brain entirely unconsious it still does not feel whatsoever of the pain of death. the food industry volition do whatever necesary to reduce cost, but if you lot truly intendance nearly the wellbeing of living things, purchase kosher.
Jeff, storrs, ct USA

The Sikh traditional way of slaughter is to behead the animal in one stroke. Compared to all the methods I read to a higher place, it seems most efficent, and practical.
Singh, London

I retrieve that everyone agrees that if we must kill animals for food then it is our duty as civilised human beings, to ensure that the animals are killed as quickly and humanely every bit possible. I observe it impossible to believe that killing an animal by cut its throat is either quick or humane.
As a youngster I have seen animals slaughtered using a captive bolt - this is a quick, clean, instantaneous and therefore humane way to kill an creature. I never saw an occasion where it was necessary to use more than 1 shot !

Peter Davies, Nottingham England

Something all of the higher up seemed to take missed, This has nothing to practise with animals feeling pain. It has every affair to do with Fluffy Liberals. From reading the PRO comments it'south no surprise to read that information technology is the American Jews for the argument Kosher as usual. This whole process is to do with human being guilt, non the pain of the animal- it is getting slaughtered for food. We need to swallow, it merely that some humans can't cope with the reality. So they pretend to care about the animals welfare and campaign for its welfare. Then they become dwelling house shove a big piece of beef in the oven and serve with 2 veg. Get a grip and become on with your life, You are at the top of the nutrient concatenation, that is why y'all all the same live today. An fauna is an creature at that place to exist eaten when needed. You need to stop worrying about whether an brute feels pain when killed for you dinner and try and sympathise why our children are kidnapped and murdered for sex in all our countries. I'thousand sure they could make best use of your assist rather than a cow. You should be ashamed of yourselves.
Chris Wade, The Wirral, England

Something all of the above seemed to have missed, This has cipher to practice with animals feeling pain. It has every thing to do with Fluffy Liberals and from the PRO comments no surprise to read that information technology is the American Jews for the argument Kosher as usual. This whole process is to do with human guilt, not the pain of the brute, it is getting slaughtered for food. We need to eat, it just that some humans can't cope with the reality. Then they pretend to care most the animals welfare and entrada for its welfare. Then they go habitation shove a big piece of beef in the oven and serve with 2 veg. Get a grip and get on with your life, You lot are at the top of the food chain, that is why you all the same live today. An animal is an brute there to be eaten when needed. You demand to end worrying most whether an beast feels pain when killed for you dinner and attempt and understand why our children are kidnapped and murdered for sex in all our countries. I'thou sure they could make best utilise of your assistance rather than a moo-cow. Y'all should be ashamed of yourselves
C Wade, Wirral England

I was researching Halal and Kosher considering I do care well-nigh animals feeling hurting and which method to choose in minimising harm to the animal. I was a vegan but now feed my child a little meat every two weeks, I too care about our children in all countries. In that location is no dorsum and white or articulate answers and every trunk at some stage volition disagree in this world merely change starts with pity and yes it does exist, for all including beast which we are too,the plants and planet. I am aiming for residue not perfection.
Bronwyn, Echuca Commonwealth of australia

I believe that the kosher fashion to kill animals is the best style! First of all, it is painless for the fauna so that is good. Secondly, if it is more than expensive then don't buy information technology! Just allow the religious Jewish people buy it and all the non-Jews can deport on ownership their non-Kosher meat. This way the animals and humans are happy!
Lauren R, England

Yous are all of you deluded. An animal with its throat cut dies hideously. As does a human. It own't overnice. I love a steak or three but prefer to know that the beast was expressionless before existence sliced upwards. Many are non. True fact.
L. Kenneth Hortin, Mareeba Commonwealth of australia

I couldn't give a crap how the fauna is killed! I have no remorse for food
Calderon, Melbourne AUS

C Wade, Wirral. How very Catholic to say that nosotros shouldn't get ourselves worked upwardly over cows when there is then much other suffering in the globe. That'south like maxim you shouldn't be happy because other people are more happy than yous and that's what you should be thinking about. The fact is, no thing which method is used there will always be cases where the animal suffers, because, quite just, it is existence killed. Which is never nice. As long as at that place is work being done to brand sure that its always performed every bit humanely as possible within the strictures presented, we should be grateful.
Rhian McComb, Preston, England

I am a meat lover, and I dear all meats except for pork. I had a fresh meat commitment business organization in London for over 12 years, and from my experience, the tastiest, the juiciest and most tender meat is e'er without incertitude Halal or Kosher, whether information technology be beef, chicken or lamb! To add together, I actually have 2 dogs, a cat and a parrot at dwelling, I do beloved animals too and would detest to run into mine die in any sort of way to say the least! I sympathize and tin encounter how and why order feels for the animals.. and cares for the animals welfare etc, because i feel the same as well.. just guys and girls don't exist brainwashed! Don't be and so ignorant to reality.. if you want to have a steak? Or you lot want KFC or a burger? So know the reality is that it is flesh of a in one case living animal which y'all will eat! This alone, merely by eating animal flesh is potentially cannibalism or animal cruelty or inhumane! Besides, if halal and kosher were then widely available, i recall price of meat would be much higher because of the manpower involved in it compared to bolts and Electric.. To conclude, animals regardless how we encounter it, suffer less with a slit! It may wait horrific and barbaric, but I take seen the ii extreme opposite types of abattoirs, believe y'all me, the face up on the dying animal is equally pitiful, bad and ugly as the other method!!! For me, and for the professional person people I meet, ever in favour of halal or kosher.. also think nearly the diseases in the claret... how is AIDs transferred... past blood.. we are humans(smartest on the planet) and nosotros however catch AIDs.. imagine animals how many diseases can easily be contained in their blood. It'southward healthier and more clean to drain the blood from the animal the halal or kosher style. the bolt or electrical is a shock, causes major adrenalin rush, and causes blood clots.. because the brain doesn't know what's happening, and the middle doesn't know how to crush whatsoever more and the blood doesn't pump effectually the veins properly, so a lot more blood in the veins will be trapped compared to halal and kosher... its better the animal knows its dying as office of eating a cleaner and healthier meat... concluding just not to the lowest degree - it's the price you pay for the life y'all chose! So if you want meat to consume, at that place will never exist any humane way to eat it! It's got the toll of beingness an inhumane type of food.. for God'due south sake if yous are so offended by it, and then plow to being a vegetarian! Thanks for reading! ten
Samuel Howard, London, United Kingdom

I've just watched a video on yous tube of a Mercy Halal Slaughter by Sam Kouka (who looks kind of biblical). It was done on a small calibration in a more than natural surround If only it was truthful that all Halal meat was slaughtered this way but somehow I dubiousness it is. I saw a different video on halal slaughter in Belgium and it seemed as bad as whatever other type of slaughter considering of the intensive methods. I think that'southward a big part of the problem: the calibration of the slaughter volition ever compromise compassion and care. Just every bit with intensive mill farming, intensive slaughter is bailiwick to all sorts of abuses to animals considering on that scale, turn a profit is the simply interest. Isn't that questionable and abhorrent to whatever decent person (be they Muslim, Jew, Christian or atheist)? I take nosotros're at the top of the food chain (and I do eat meat three times a week), I also endeavour to swallow halal or kosher meat because: 1. Information technology volition take been blessed in God's proper noun (a solemn blessing that takes into account the sacrifice the creature is making for our well being). 2. The blood is drained. Muslims (and Jews) are not allowed to consume blood. I can't exist certain that non-halal/not-kosher meat has been drained of most of its blood and then it feels somewhat unclean to me. I would rather my meat was organic, gratuitous-range and halal/kosher and killed in the near humane method and setting possible. Why practice all these values have to be at odd with each other? I do think the calibration of slaughter is a major contributor to the cruelty (and makes it harder to monitor welfare and methods). A lot of meat is wasted also. I have that there are more people simply that places even more responsibility on our shoulders to act mercifully and humanely.
Kelly Al-Saleh, Clapton, East London United Kingdom

I don't think many people really consider how animals are bred or killed. They alive according to at that place ways and ordinarily but buy meat that is processed, prepared, packed and looks zippo like sn animal. Only when animal cruelty is highlighted in the media are people horrified but not enough to chsnge their dietary habits. Only if it is a human being health risk and the Ecology Health or Regime steps in do people reply. Don't think there would exist a good style to be slaughtered but no doubt the surround, method and person doing the depatching could make it worse.
Chiliad Dewar , Dundee Scotland

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