VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

CATTLE SLAUGHTER

Slaughter is the term used to describe the killing and butchering of animals, usually for food. Commonly it refers to killing and butchering of domestic livestock (tame animals).

The animals most commonly slaughtered for food are cattle (for beef and veal), water buffalo, sheep (for lamb and mutton), goats, pigs (for pork), horses (for horse meat), and fowl, largely chickens, turkeys, and ducks and increasingly fish from the aquaculture industry (fish farming).

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
• Dhabihah - Islamic law of slaughtering animals