Saturday, 07 March 2015 00:00

UK support for non-stun slaughter ban

Written by Rural News Group

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A petition calling for non-stun livestock slaughter to be banned in the UK hit its target 100,000 signatures last month, says instigator the British Veterinary Association.

“We urge the chairman of the backbench business committee to honour the petition and pledge to debate an end to non-stun slaughter at the first opportunity in the next Parliament,” said BVA president John Blackwell

The petition hit 100,000 two months ahead of its March 30 close and only a handful of e-petitions (0.1%) ever achieve 100,000 signatures, says the BVA.

A 2013 UK Food Standards Authority sample survey of welfare practices at Britain’s 232 red meat slaughterhouses found a 31% increase in cattle not stunned before slaughter for Halal compared to 2011, and a 56% increase (from 28,734 to 44,950) of sheep and goats not stunned.

Meanwhile there was a decrease in kosher (Shechita or non-stunned slaughter) in cattle from 1314 to 475 (-66%), in sheep and goats from 1917 to 601 (-68%) and poultry from 71,236 to 21,716 (-69%).

The results indicate that overall the number of animals not stunned prior to slaughter in Great Britain accounted for 2% of cattle, 10% of sheep and goats, and 4% of poultry.

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