Shechita - Kosher Ritual Slaughter

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​Dr. Temple Grandin, a world recognised expert in animal welfare has inspected over 30 kosher beef plants in the U.S., Canada and other countries. She has personally tested and observed Kosher ritual slaughter, Shechita, and states that she was amazed that the cattle appeared to be unaware they were being slaughtered. They displayed no spasms nor even a flinch as is visible when the beasts have their ears punched tor placing tags.
Shechita is performed by making a single swift incision with a blade that is sharper and smoother than a razor or even a scalpel. The blade must be long enough to ensure one movement can complete the incision. 

Additionally, the blade must be absolutely smooth. It is honed to perfection; in fact the entire blade displays a flawless mirror finish. The cutting edge is constantly tested by running both the flesh and nail of a finger both up and down, along every edge of the blade. 

It is postulated that just as a "paper cut" is often not noticed until some time after the cut has occurred, so too the incision made by a faultless blade does not traumatise the nerves and does not trigger the pain receptors.

  

There are three edges to be checked, each side and the top, which means that the knife undergoes 12 checks. WATCH VIDEO 
These 12 checks are performed by two people,  the slaughter-man and his associate. The slightest imperfection in the blade disqualifies it from being used for Kosher slaughter.

Dr Temple Grandin

​It is not only the blade that is honed to perfection, the Shochtim too undergo extensive and rigorous training. This training not only hones the Shochet's dexterity but more importantly emphasises and inculcates the Jewish tradition that reveres the sanctity of life. The Shochet's vocation is a holy calling. Jewish tradition insists that all life is holy and only the most Gd fearing and respectful are chosen to be trained for the task of taking life in order to give food for life.

Throughout our long history, the community Shochet has always been a dignified prestigious personality. The combination of saintliness, reverence for life, intense training and strict adherence to the minute details of the law, guarantees that beasts are dispatched with every concern for their welfare and without pain or trauma. 

Dr. Temple Grandin, ostensibly the world's foremost expert on and advocate of, animal welfare, documents her experiences with Shechita. She has personally tested and observed Shechita and states that as best she can determine, Kosher slaughter when properly performed, is probably one of the best methods for dispatching the beast. She has inspected over 30 kosher beef plants in the U.S., Canada and other countries. 

"I was amazed that the cattle did not react to the shechita cut. They just looked around before they collapsed and appeared to not be aware that their throats had been cut. Most will become insensible within 5 to 10 seconds after a properly performed Shechita."

She notes that punching their ears for tags, an almost universal practice, draws a greater flinch from the beasts than a properly performed Kosher slaughter.

She writes:
"When the cut is done correctly, the animal appears not to feel it."
"the head restrainer  (was) so lightly (applied) that the animals could pull their heads out. None of the 10 cattle moved or attempted to pull their heads out. Observations of hundreds of cattle and calves during kosher slaughter indicated that there was a slight quiver when the knife first contacted the throat. In another informal experiment, mature bulls and Holstein cows were gently restrained in a head holder with no body restraint. All of them stood still during the cut and did not appear to feel it."
"Cattle do not appear distressed even when the onset of unconsciousness is delayed.  Cattle appear to be unaware that their throat is cut. Investigators in New Zealand have made similar observations. After the head restraint is released, the animal collapses almost immediately or stands and looks around like a normal, alert animal."

"Near immediate collapse can be induced in over 95% of cattle if the ritual slaughterer makes a rapid, deep cut close to the jawbone."

In non-Kosher slaughter she observes that:
"poor gun maintenance is a major cause of poor stunning, in which more than one shot is required.
When a standing animal is shot, it should (but often does not) instantly drop to the floor. In cattle, the neck contracts in a spasm for 5 to 10 seconds (spasms are not observed in Shechted, ritually slaughtered beasts) Hogs have violent convulsions. This can occur even when the brain and part of the spinal cord have been destroyed (this is an attempt to suggest that the beast can feel no pain; however there is still great debate in defining pain and trauma particularly with more information accumulating from 'near death experiences'). These are normal reactions (which are not at all evident in properly Shechted beasts) 

Gasping or gagging reflexes are permissible, they are signs of a dying brain (these too are not evident in properly Shechted beasts) Within 10 seconds, the neck and head should be completely relaxed. However, the animal's limbs may make uncoordinated movements for several minutes (In the normal practice of Shechitah there will be a gentle stretching of one or more of the legs but not more. If the Shechted beast makes "uncoordinated movements for several minutes" it may be acceptable as Kosher but is looked at as a very poor example of Shechitah.)

Jewish tradition and law is dedicated to animal well-being. It is  one of the seven “Noachide” laws given to mankind in the days of Noah. 

We are instructed to feed our animals before partaking our own meal.

Hunting for pleasure or sport is strictly forbidden. Our communities have not engaged in such activities and our culture imbues us with disgust at the very thought of such behaviour. In fact the RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was founded by a Jew, Louis Gompertz.