ritual slaughter

1. Ritual Slaughter
Slaughter without prior stunning of food animals as per religious rites are referred -as ritual
slaughter. There are widely practical in many countries. In India and far East, Practically all the
meat animals are slaughtered in conscious state
Jewish method of Slaughter or Schechita. The regulations for Jewish slaughter came into
existence around 500 AD. Consumption of pork was strictly prohibited for jews, probably as a
safeguard against tapeworm.
a. Animals to be slaughtered should be active. Moribund animals which lie quite and also do not
get up even by striking with a stick must not be slaughtered. A blow on perforation of the
membranes of the brain constituted a mutilation. Therefore, this method envisages slaughter of
animals without prior stuning.
b. The incision across the neck is made by single rapid thrust of sharp knife which severs the
skin, muscles, oesophagus, trachea, carotid arteries and jugular veins. This incision should be
completed without pause, pressure, stabbing or tearing.
c. The dressing of the carcases should expose the diaphragm and allow manual examination of
thoracic organ.
d. The blood vessels must be removed before the retail sail of meat is undertaken. It is for this
reason that only forequarters are normally eaten. Hindquarters containing lot of butchers
(Schochet) and are thus rarely eaten.
e. Kosher meat must be sold and consumed within three days of slaughter.
Jewish slaughter (Schechita) is undertaken by a Schochet (cutter) Carcass fit for jewish
consumption is stamped with kosher seal on the brisket while unfit is pronounced as terepha.
Muslim method of Slaughter or Halal Some practices relating to slaughter of animals and
consumption pf meat by the members of Jewish faith match with those of Muslims. In both
cases, consumption of dead animals, blood and pork is forbidden. The vertebral artery enclosed
in the spinal cord is not severed.
In this method, neck of the animal is served by cutting the four major blood vessels-carotid
arteries and jugular veins with a sharp knife. The spinal cord is left intact. So the nerve centers
controlling the heart and lungs remain functional and an efficient bleeding is ensured. It also
enhances the keeping quality of meat.
Unlike Schechita, Muslim method of slaughter is not controlled by a central board but it is
overseen by the local Islamic authorities (Musftis) Here, stunning may be permitted in some
cases if it permits the heart to beat for some time. Since animals has to struggle for sometime
before in India, buffaloes and most of the sheep and goat are slaughtered by Halal method.
II)Jhatka or Sikh method of Slaughter In this method, the head of the animal is chopped
off with one big stroke of a sword. In some part of northern India, skilled workers can
decapitate even buffaloes by a single stroke of a special sword. Since medulla oblongata is
damaged in the process, bleeding remains incomplete. Due to presence of some blood in
tissues, the keeping auality of meat may be affected.
Evermaizine or Neck Stab method. It is followed in Spain, some parts of Italy,
Mexico and some South American countries. In this method, cattle are slaughtered
by plunging a short double edged knife (puntilla) into occipito – atlantal space at
the nape of the neckseveringthe medullaoblongata