Yesterday I listened to a discussion about “halal” and “kosher” meat. One of the persons in the discussion was a big mouth who clearly had not sorted out the facts.
First of all, over here in The Netherlands animals only may be slaughtered by trained people… no matter of halal or kosher guidelines are followed. And it only may be done at places that are authorized for this. Punishments are severe for those that act against the laws on this matter.
A well trained and experienced halal/kosher butcher kills the animal in one move and in such a way that the animal is instantly dead. All the blood looks very unpleasant, but it is something the animals itself is not aware of any more.
The period before the slaughter the animal is treated very well. This is very important in my opinion so the last moment comes sudden and with less stress.
This compared to our “normal” slaughter-houses is a complete story. The transport of the animals is extreme stressful and very often things go really wrong during these transports (broken legs and worse). Our slaughterhouses are factories were animals are slaughtered is as high as possible speed against as less possible costs. Often… VERY often things go wrong. Animals are not dead when they are processed. The moments before they are slaughtered are extreme stressful. Animals that are wounded after transport are treated very bad.
Having said all this: No, I am not specially in favour for Halal and Kosher slaughtering of animals. But people should not tell nonsense and act like our “normal” way of slaughtering animals is so good (while it is not).
Coming directly from a farmers-family I know how bad animals are treated. But “God” supplied us humans with those lower being for us to eat…. at least that is what many religions try to make us believe.
But I have to admit, I love a good piece of meat. So I try to keep a good balance between things by using as much as possible animal-friendly meat, so I know at least those animals had a good life.
Well. In my opinion, eating meet has nothing to do with religion but with the circle of life. Problem is that we have no natural enemies. So we over populate, overconsume and worry about futile issues like kosher and halal. Respecting the animals is the least we can do. But slaughter is in no way murder. And milk still comes from cows and not from factory(we are so far from nature, we do not have to worry about getting food, would we survive if had to?)
You know that I am not religious at all, but Halal and Kosher slaughtering was in the past not really a religious thing, but something to make sure the meat was a clean and free of germs as possible. I would not call that futile.
And no, I neither call slaughtering of animals murder (as long it is for consumption). But I disagree with your statement about over populate and over consuming. Centuries back when there was no thing as overpopulating, people already then kept cattle and slaughtered it for its meet.
The real point that I wanted to make was that we “civilized” people call Halal and Kosher barbaric and cruel, while in our massive slaughter houses animals are used as things and many cruel things happen to the still living animals.
To be honest, I think Halal and Kosher slaughter (under guidance of law) is more friendly for the animal as our “modern” ways.
Buying biological friendly meat is a way to respect animals I think. And no, I don’t do that all the time. But when I can, I will.
Hi Rob. I am sorry. You misunderstand me. I think i am following your way of thinkin. My answer was not directed at you in any way. It was a follow up on a conversation i had recently with someone who called butchering/slaughter murder. People are nowadays so far from nature and reality. I grew up on a farm where animals were treated with respect, but as lifestock and not as pets.
But id think Mass consumptions sanctions animal cruelty
And that is a bad thing in any way.
Seems indeed we are thinking alike in this matter! 🙂