4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

Wednesday,6thApril2016

Summaryreport
Experimentsfortheobjectificationofpainandconsciousnessduringconventional(captiveboltstunning)
andreligiouslymandated(ritualcutting)slaughterproceduresforsheepandcalves.

[clickhereforprintversion]
From
DeutscheTieraerztlicheWochenschrift(Germanveterinaryweekly)volume85(1978),pages6266

translatedbyDrSahibM.Bleher,DipTransMIL

ByW.Schulze,H.SchultzePetzold,A.S.Hazem,andR.Gross

TheAnimalWelfareActof24July1972(TierSchG)assumesthebasicconceptofanethically
orientatedanimalwelfarelegislation.Itfurtherstipulatesthatthestandardsforevaluatingthe
obligationtoprotectanimalsshouldnotsomuchbetheresultofhumansensitivitiesandemotional,
buttobeincreasinglyreplacedbyexactandrepresentativescientificknowledgeofstandardsand
requirementsspecifictoanimalspeciesandcorrespondenttotheirbehaviour(Ertl.1972).TheAct
thusconformstothechangingattitudeofmantothelifecircumstancesandlegitimatewelfare
entitlementsofanimals,adevelopmentwhichcanalsobenoticedinternationally.

Therulesforanimalwelfarefoundedonscientificstandardsofevaluationmeanformanyofthe
regulatedwelfareconcerns,e.g.thekeepingandtransportationofanimals,anecessitytoclarify
individualscientificandsubjectspecificissues.Thisclarificationisapreconditionforacontinued
reformofanimalwelfare.

ThisappliesinparticulartothethirdsectionoftheTierSchG,whichdealswiththekillingofanimals.
Theprovisionsofthissectionarefurtherdirectlyconnectedtothelawonslaughter,whichthus
assumesthelegalpositionofaspeciallegislativepartoftheAnimalWelfareAct.Thisfundamental
integrationofthelawonslaughterwithintheAnimalWelfareActhasbeenexplicitlyconfirmedbya
voteoftheCouncilofFederalStatesdated25October1963.AtthattimetheCouncilofFederalStates
refusedtoauthorisethedraftofaThirdDirectiveontheModificationoftheDirectiveontheslaughter
ofanimalsbytheFederalsecretaryofstateforNutrition,AgricultureandForestry(BML)givingthe
followingreasons:
TheregulationsoftheLawonslaughter(Actanddirectionsonimplementationontheslaughterof
animalsdated21April1933)aretobeseenintheirtotalityaspartofthetopicAnimalWelfare,
whichistobeseenasanindependentandcompletelegalmatterinthemeaningofthedecisionofthe
FederalConstitutionalCourtdated11May1955(BverfGE4,128184).TheLawonslaughteris
thereforeanintegratedpartoftheAnimalWelfareActandincludedinthegeneralreformofthe
AnimalWelfareActdemandedbyparliamentandthepublic.

Accordingtoarticle4,para.1TierSchGavertebratemustonlybekilledafterbeingstunnedor
otherwise,wherereasonableunderthegivencircumstances,withoutafflictingpain.Wherethekilling
ofavertebrateispermittedwithoutstunning,e.g.duetootherlegislation,thekillingmustonlybe
carriedoutwithnomorethantheinevitablepain.ThisbindinggeneralprovisionoftheTierSchGmust
equallybethebasisofthereformedLawonslaughter.

Withregardtotheslaughterofhotbloodedvertebratesthetaskofascientificclarificationofthe
processesduringstunningandkillingbecomesparamounthere.Inotherwords:afullscopescientific
investigationofexistingideasofthestart,courseandextentofthereductionofperceptivenessand
thesensitivitytopainincludingitsexpiration.Thismeans:clarityabouttherelationbetweenstunning
andkilling.Thetermconsciousnessshouldbeavoided.

Fromananimalwelfarerightsperspectivestunningheremeansameasurewhichmovestheanimal
tobeslaughteredasquicklyaspossibleandwithoutfearintoaconditionofcompletelossofsensitivity
andperceptionthetimefactordoesplayanimportantrolehere.Thisisfollowedbythekilling,
normallybywayofbloodletting,whichtransformstheanimaltobeslaughteredintoacarcass.

Investigationsoftheeffectivenessofstunningananimaltobeslaughteredmustintodays
understandingbebasedonthepossibilityofmeasuringpainreactions.Thereareanumberof
publicationsonthevariousmethodsofstunninganimalsforslaughter.However,theirconclusionsare
http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

1/6

4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

sofarpredominantlybasedonsubjectivemethodsofevaluationandcontainlittlescientificevidence.

Recently,criticalessaysontheeffectivenessofcurrentmethodsofstunninganimalsforslaughterare
ontheincrease(Cantieni,1977Scheper,1977).IntheNetherlandsacommittee(De
StudiecommissieBedwelmingSlachtdieren)wasestablishedforthesamereasonin1975,anditsmost
importanttaskistoadvicethegovernmentonreliablemethodsofstunninganimalsforslaughterwith
regardtoanimalwelfare.

Forruminantsthecaptiveboltstunningdeviceistheusualstunningdevice.Inrecentdecadesithas
beenacceptedforuseallovertheworld.Whereasthisdevicehasbeenrecognisedlegallyfor
stunninganimalsforslaughternationallyandinternationallyonlyveryfewexperimentalworkson
thismethodhavebeenpublishedtodate.Aparticularcauseforacarefulevaluationisnotatleastthe
informationbyArlt(1971)that3of9patients(suicideattempt)remainedconsciousforlongerperiods
oftimeinspiteofseverepenetratingbraininjuriesafteraboltshotinthefrontalandtemporal
regions.

Foranimals,herespecificallywithregardtotheslaughterhousesituation,alossofsensitivityand
perception(stunning)canonlybeassumedwhentheanimalliescompletelywithoutmovementafter
therespectivemeasureanddoesnotshowanyreactiontogivenpainstimuli.Ontheotherhand,we
knowfromdailyexperiencethatcaptiveboltstunning,initsvariousapplications,canleadtodifferent
reactions.Aknowledgeandobservationofthenecessarystrengthofthephysicalforceappliedin
ordertohavetherequiredmechanicaleffectonthebrainseemsequallyimportanthereasthepoint
ofapplicationanddirectionofapplicationofthebolt.Therearehardlyanyexperimentsavailablefor
thepurposeofensuringadefinitestunningoftheanimaltobeslaughtered.

Thepreparatoryconsiderationsfortherestructuringoftheslaughterlegislationforcows,calvesand
sheepalsohadtoincludetheslaughteroftheseanimalsinaccordancewithreligiouslymandated
regulationswithoutpriorstunning(socalledritualslaughter).Sincelong,factual,legal,andethical
issuesconfronteachotherinextricablyinthismatter.Theoppositiontoastunningfreeslaughterhas
alonghistory.Forexample,theexecutivecommitteeoftheFederationofAnimalWelfareAssociations
petitionedtheImperialGermanParliamentalreadyin1895toproscribethestunningfreeslaughter.
In1910,612Germanslaughterhouseveterinariansand41Germanveterinaryassociationsdescribed
stunningfreeslaughterascrueltytoanimalsinadeclarationtotheImperialGermanParliamentand
demandedalegalprohibition.Evenbefore,in1901,441outof463expertsdescribedthestunning
freeslaughterascontrarytoanimalwelfareinaquestionnaireaimedatallveterinariansaswellas
universitylecturersatveterinarycollegesandprofessorsofphysiologyinthethenGermanEmpire
(Spitaler,A.,1965).Representativesofanimalwelfarepresentthesameopiniontodaynotonly
nationally,butalsointernationally.Forexample,therepresentativesoftheWorldAnimalWelfare
AssociationandtheInternationalSocietyforAnimalWelfareparticipatingasobserversinthe
deliberationsoftheAnimalProtectionCommitteeoftheCouncilofEuropeinStrasbourgforthe
creationofaEuropeanAgreementonAnimalWelfareduringSlaughterstatedthefollowing,
amongstotherthings,abouttheirstrictoppositionofslaughterofruminantsinaccordancewith
religiousregulations(ritualcutting):Ritualslaughterassuchmeansconsiderablepainfortheanimals.
Further:Theconnectionbetweenthecentralandtheperipheralnervoussystemsisnotseveredbythe
ritualcutinadditionthevertebralarteryremainsintact,whichresultsinbovineanimalsinthebrain
continuingtoadegreetobesuppliedwithblood.And:Asbrainimpulses(electroencephalogram)and
thecapabilityofcoordinatedmovementcanstillbeobservedsometimeaftertheritualcut,itmustbe
assumedthatthesensationofpainalsocontinuesforsometime.Theseconsiderationswere
presentedbytheobserversmentionedastheresultofadiscussionwithscientificexpertsinveterinary
medicineattheuniversityMunichinNovember1996(CouncilofEurope,CommitteeofExpertsonthe
ProtectionofAnimals,1976).

Representationsofthiskindhavelongbeenchallengedbyequallythoroughstudiesandobservations
ofotherestablishedexperts.Forexample,Bongart(1927)pointedoutonthebasisofveryextensive
studiesontheritualslaughterofcalvescarriedoutwithhiscolleaguesHock,Muchlinskyand
Schellner,thatwhereritualslaughterhasbeencarriedoutproperlyonanimals,theresistance
movementsobservedcouldnolongerbeinterpretedassignsofconsciousnessandsensationofpain.
Hereachestheconclusionwithregardtocalvesthatnocrueltytoanimalsofwhateverkindcanbe
foundintheapplicationoftheritualslaughtermethod.Asanexampleofasimilarviewofmorerecent
yearstherepresentationsofSpoerri(1964)onthetopicAnimalwelfareandritualslaughtercanbe
cited.Hereachedtheconvictiononthebasisofobservationsonsome50rituallyslaughteredanimals,
aswellasrelatedexperimentsonrabbits,sheep,goat,andcowsunderlaboratoryconditions,thatthe
ritualslaughterofanimalsdidnotcauseanyoratleastnomorepainthankillingaftercaptivebolt,
electricorCO2stunning.ThestudiesofLevinger(1976)areofasimilarnature.

SchultzePetzold(1973)characterisesthescientificdebateoftheseissuesduringalectureonthe
imminentcreationofaEuropeanAgreementontheWelfareofAnimalsintheCommitteeAnimal
http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

2/6

4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

ProtectionoftheCouncilofEuropeasfollows:Thosefamiliarwiththenationalandinternational
literatureonthisproblemmustnotethattheproblemofcausingandsensingpainandtheelimination
ofconsciousnessanditscriteriaalreadyexistedbeforetheturnofthecenturywithregardtothe
slaughtermethodsatthecentreoftheevidenceandcounterevidenceofthecrueltyofanimals
assumedinthiscasewiththeexceptionoftheissueoflayingdowntheanimaltobeslaughtered,
whichtodayseemsresolvedbyusingthehydraulictiltingequipment.Alltheseconsiderationsand
attemptedexperimentslastcarriedoutcomprehensivelybyveterinarymedicinesome40yearsago
areonlymoreorlesshypotheticalintheirconclusions.

Forexampletheyarenotoronlyinsufficientlyabletomakeanystatementsonthekindandintensity
ofthebrainfunctionlinkedtoconsciousness.Thisis,ofcourse,mostlyduetotheinadequacyof
methodologicalpossibilitiesatthetime.Practicallywearetoday,whentacklingthereformoftheLaw
onslaughter,stillfacedwithasituationthatwithregardtothebeginningandextentofthelossof
perceptionandsensitivityandthestimulationofsensingpainanditsdiscontinuation,whetherusing
captiveboltstunningorritualslaughter,thereisnoscientificallysecureevidenceavailable.The
preconditionofsuchgenerallyvalidevidenceiscomparativestudiesaimingattheobjectificationand
measurabilityofpainandconsciousnessprocesses.Thisisfurthermoreahighlytopicalissuein
generalmedicine,asitcomesclosetothequestionofwherelifeendsanddeathbegins.Oneneed
onlyrefertothediscussiononthetimingoftherighttoremoveorgansforhumantransplantation.

Theresearchofhumanmedicineintothephysiologyofthesenseshasinthisrespectturned
intensivelytomodernmethodologicalpossibilitiesofdiscoveryandhassincedevelopedtheseintoa
usefulobjectificationofthesequestions.Heretheelectroencephalogram(EEG)mostcertainlyplaysa
keyrole.

ThisposesthequestionfortheFederalministryofnutrition,agricultureandforestry(BML)when
startingworkonthereformoftheLawofslaughter:Shoulditnotbepossible,afteranadjustmentfor
thevariousmodelsofanimalsforslaughter,tofindwaysthroughthiskindofmethodtoreachwithina
reasonabletimeascientificallysoundandpredominantlyobjectivestatementontheprocesses
relevantforanimalwelfareduringconventionalaswellasritualslaughterofhotbloodedanimals?

In1971and1973theBMLdiscussedthistheoreticalapproachforascientificclarificationoftheissues
atstakeduringtalkswithrepresentativesoftheRabbinicalConferenceandtheCentralCouncilofJews
inGermany,andthespiritualmanagementofMuslimrefugeesintheFederalRepublicofGermany,
respectively.Atthesametimethereligiouslymandatedfactorsapplyingtotheritualslaughterwere
clarifiedwiththesereligiouscommunities.Itwasmadeclearthattherespectivereligiouslymandated
provisionsofbothreligionscontinuetobebindingfortheirmembers.Asthisconclusionhasuntil
recentlybeenrepeatedlyquestionedwithregardtothemembersoftheIslamicfaithintheFederal
RepublicofGermany,astatementonthetopicbytheTurkishGovernmentrepresentativeinthe
CommitteeAnimalProtectionoftheCouncilofEurope,Strasbourg,duringthecreationoftheabove
mentionedEuropeanAgreementonAnimalWelfareduringslaughterispartlyquotedhere:Turkey
investigatedthepossibilityoftheelectricstunningofanimalsforslaughter.Itmustbenotedthatthis
procedureviolatestheexpectationsoftheTurkishpeopleaswellastherulesoftheMuslimfaith
(CouncilofEurope,CommitteeofExpertsontheProtectionofAnimals,1976).

DuringthispreliminaryworktheBMLaskedexpertsofthevariousbranchesoflearningmentionedina
meetinginearly1974topresenttheirexperiencesandideas.Boththegeneraldiscoveryofthe
physiologyofthesensesrelevanttothismatteraswellasallpotentialmethodologicalpossibilities
werediscussed,notleastwithregardtotheiradaptationtothemodelsofanimalsforslaughtercow,
calf,sheepandanynecessaryinitialexperiments.Thediscussionwasguidedbythefollowing
questions:
1.Whatdoweknowandwhatcanbemeasuredusinginstruments?
2.Whatdowenotyetknowordonotknowsufficiently?
3.Whatcanbemademeasurableusinginstruments?

Thisdoesnotmerelyconcerntheritualslaughtercomplex,butalsothescientificallyproven
definitionofthetermstunningduringcaptiveboltstunning.Itneedstobeestablishedwhetherthe
captiveboltdoeswiththerespectiveanimalstobeslaughtereddefinitelycauseaCommotiocerebri
whichonlyleadstounconsciousnessaftershakingthelimbicsystem.Otherwisethecaptivebolt
methodwouldonlycauseaContusiointheseanimalstobeslaughtered,whichgenerallywouldonly
leadtoamotorparalysis.

Aimoftheexpertconsultationwasmainlyananswertothequestion:Doesthecurrentstateof
methodologypermittheexperimentalstudyofthepertainingscientificquestionsinprinciple?

Theminutesofthisexpertmeetingon79February1974attheBMLcontainthefollowingsummaryof
results:Theexpertsdiscussedtheanatomical,physiologicalandclinicalissuesindepthwithregardto
thecurrentmethodologicalpossibilities.Specialemphasiswasgiventothespeciesspecificvariations
http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

3/6

4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

andthecomparabilitytoanalogoushumanexperiences.Theexpertsmainlyagreethat,especiallydue
tothedifferentanatomicalstartingconditionsfortheanimalspeciesunderconsideration,aprincipal
comparabilitymustnotbeassumedfromtheoutset.Thisalsoappliestotherespectiveagecategories
(e.g.calf/cow).Relevantresearchisbeingadvocated.Wheninvestigatingthemethodological
possibilities,thekeycandidatesare:EEG,bloodpressureandbrainpressuremeasurements,
angiography,reflexstudies,andfunctionalinvestigationsoftheadrenocortis.Duringinitial
experimentsmeasurementsshouldbeasextensiveaspossible,inordertorevealunidentifiable
correlations.Duringquestioningtheexpertsappearedtoplacespecialemphasisonthefactor
time/pain,asforafuturelegislativeregulationbothtermsareofequalimportance.Initially
investigationsusingEEGtogetherwithelectrocardiagram(ECG)andbloodpressureandreflex
measurementsappearpromising,followedbycheckingtheadrenocortialfunction(adrenalin
corticosteroiddischarge)withhorizontalcatheter(BMLAZ.3212971.460/73).

FollowingthedecisionoftheexpertgrouptheBMLissuedon1stJuly1974aresearchbriefonthe
topicObjectificationofpainandconsciousnessinthecontextofconventionalandritualslaughterof
ruminants(initiallysheepandcalves)toProfDrWSchulze,directoroftheClinicforsmallclawed
animalsandforensicmedicineandmobileclinicoftheveterinaryuniversityofHanover.Withinthe
researchworkofthatclinicreligious,physiological,andtechnicalissuesofritualslaughterhadbeen
dealtwithinacomprehensivestudysincethetimeofKunkel(1962).

TheresearchbriefissuedbytheBMLdemandedagradualdevelopmentofthestudies.Themastery
ofelectrodetechnologyandelectrodeimplantationfortheanimalspeciesconcerned,themasteryof
externalelectricitybybuildingaFaradaycagefortheexperiments,andthepreliminaryexperiments
onrabbitsmustbementionedasthefirstsignificantstepsofthestudy.Theindividualwork
approachesrequiredforthishavesincebeenpublished(Weber,1975Freesemann,1976,andGross,
1976).

EarlyJune1977theClinicforsmallclawedanimalsandforensicmedicineandmobileclinicofthe
veterinaryuniversityofHanoverpublishedashortreportonthisresearchbrief(Hazem,A.S.,Gross,
R.,Schulze,W.,1977).

Thesedocumentsrevealthefollowing:Theinvestigationscarriedoutaimedatprovidingobjective
datafortheevaluationofritualslaughterfromananimalwelfarelegislationpointofview.Aspartof
theresearchprojecttheeffectivenessofcaptiveboltstunningwasfirstanalysedusingEEG.
Comparabledataabouttheritualslaughterwerethengainedusingthesamemethodofdeductionand
evaluation.Theritualcutexperimentswerecarriedouton17sheepofthebreedblackheadedmeat
sheepand15calvesofvariousbreeds.Tofurtherinvestigatetheoccurrenceoflowfrequency
potentialsinsheepstunnedbycaptiveboltfollowedbyabloodlettingcut,sixsheepwerestunnedina
secondphaseoftheexperimentbycaptiveboltandthenbledatvariousintervals.

Theapproachofthesestudiescanbesummarisedasfollows:
Experimentsformeasuringtheheartfrequencyandbrainactivityduringslaughterconditionswere
carriedouton23sheepand15calves.AfterimplantingpermanentelectrodesintotheOsfrontalethe
cerebralcorteximpulsesweremeasuredfor17sheepand10calvesduringritualslaughterandfor6
sheepand5calvesduringcaptiveboltapplicationwithsubsequentbloodletting.Somesheepwere
additionallysubjectedtothermalpainstimuliaftertheritualcut.

Theinvestigationshadthefollowingresults:

a)Forslaughterbyritualcut:
1.AfterthebloodlettingcuttheEEGinitiallyisthesameastheEEGbeforethecut.Thereisahigh
probabilitythatthelossofreactiontookplacewithin46secondsforsheepandwithin10seconds
forcalves.
2.ThezerolineintheEEGwasrecordednolaterthanafter13secondsfor17sheepandnolater
than23secondsfor7calves.
3.Thermalpainstimulididnotcauseanincreaseinactivity.
4.Afterthecuttheheartfrequencyroseforcalveswithin40secondsto240heartactionsperminute
andforsheepwithin40secondsto280heartactionsperminute.

b)Forslaughteraftercaptiveboltapplication:
1.Aftercaptiveboltstunningallanimalsdisplayedmostseveregeneraldisturbances(wavesof12
Hz)intheEEG,whichalmostwithcertaintyeliminatesasenseofpain.
2.ThezerolineintheEEGwasreachedfor4calvesafter28seconds.
3.Fortwosheepthecerebralcortexactivityonlystoppedinonehalfofthebrain,whilstitcontinuedin
theotherintheregion(upto3.5Hz)untilthebloodlettingcut.
4.Thebloodlettingcutresultedforallanimalsinabrainactivity(eanddwaves).
5.Thermalpainstimulicausedanincreaseinactivityinonesheep.
http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

4/6

4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

6.Theheartfrequencyrosedirectlyafterstunningtovaluesabove300actionsperminute.

Insummarythefollowingconclusionsarepossible:

1.Slaughteraftercaptiveboltstunning

A.Calves
Aftercaptiveboltstunningmostseveregeneraldisturbances(wavesof12Hz)occurredintheEEG,
whichalmostwithcertaintyeliminatesasenseofpain.

B.Sheep
Similardisturbanceswerealsoseeninsheep,butbesidesthesomewhathigherfrequencythereare
stillclearlysuperimposedwaves.Foroneanimalwavescouldberecordedafterpainstimuliuntilafter
the200thsecond.Apparentcrampswereregisteredforallsheepwiththeexceptionofoneanimal.

2.Slaughterintheformofritualcut

A.Calves
Afterthebloodlettingcutlossofreaction(lossofconsciousness)occurredwithhighprobabilitywithin
10seconds.Aclearreactiontothecutcouldnotbedetectedinanyanimal.For7animalsazeroEEG
wasrecordednolaterthanafter23seconds.Crampsoccurredintheanimalsregularlyonlyafterthe
braincurrentshadstopped.

B.Sheep
Afterthebloodlettingcutlossofreaction(lossofconsciousness)occurredafter10secondsthelatest.
Aclearreactiontothecutcouldnotbedetectedinanyanimal.Thezerolinewasrecordednolater
than14secondsafterthecut.Crampsonlyoccurredafterthezerolinehadbeendetectedandwere
muchshorterthanaftercaptiveboltstunning.

Theslaughterintheformofritualcutis,ifcarriedoutproperly,painlessinsheepandcalves
accordingtotheEEGrecordingsandthemissingdefensiveactions.

Duringtheexperimentswithcaptiveboltstunningnoindicationscouldbefoundforproscribingthis
methodforcalves.

Forsheep,however,therewereinpartsseverereactionsbothtothebloodlettingcutandthepain
stimuli.Aproofofthereliableeffectivenessofcaptiveboltstunningcouldnotbeprovidedusingthe
methodsapplied.

Thesefirstexperimentscarriedoutunderclinicalconditionsandtheinsightsforthecorrelationsof
sensoryphysiologyduringstunning/slaughterofsmallruminantsinitiallyleadtothefollowingfactual
andlegalconsiderationsforthepreparationoflegislation:
Theseexperimentsonsheepandcalvescarriedoutwithinaclinicshowthatduringaritualslaughter,
carriedoutaccordingtothestateoftheartusinghydraulicallyoperatedtiltingequipmentandaritual
cut,painandsufferingtotheextentashassincelongbeengenerallyassociatedinpublicwiththis
kindofslaughtercannotberegisteredtheritualslaughtercarriedoutundertheseexperimental
conditionscomplieswiththerequirementsofarticle4para.1TierSchG.TheEEGzerolineasa
certainsignoftheexpirationofcerebralcortexactivityandaccordingtotodaysstateofknowledge
alsoofconsciousnessoccurredgenerallywithinconsiderablylesstimethanduringtheslaughter
methodaftercaptiveboltstunning.

Nobodycandisputethatanyslaughterofanimalsisanaestheticallyloadedprocess.Thusthewide
spreademotionalresistancetokillananimal,whichhasnotbeenstunned,bycuttingthethroat,is
understandable.Certainlythepsychologicalargumentforstunningtheanimaltobeslaughteredmust
beconsideredtosomedegreeforthepersoncarryingouttheslaughterorconsumingthemeatof
theseanimals.Whethertheseinitialfindingsofobjectivedataontheprocessesof
consciousness/painmadepossiblebytheresearchbriefaresufficienttosomewhatalterexisting
opinionsinthesenseofthescientificorientationofanimalwelfareasdemandedbytheTierSchG,
remainstobeseen.Theyneedtobefollowedasahighprioritybyfurtherinvestigationsinthe
continuationofthescientificclarificationoftheissuesoflossofpainandconsciousnessduring
slaughterofthiskindwithandwithoutstunningusingthesameexperimentalapproachwitha
representativenumberofgrowncowsofvariousbreeds.Anewresearchbriefisalreadyduetobe
issuedtoadifferentscientificinstitute.

Theobjectiveresultspresentedforthecaptiveboltapplicationinsheepshowthathereasatisfactory
preventionofpaincouldnotbeprovenwithclinicalmethodsratheritindicatesthatthecaptivebolt
deviceusedissuspect.Therefore,researchworkinthisfieldisalsourgentlyrequired.Thismustbe
http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

5/6

4/6/2016

TheHalalStudy

concernedwithachievinganappropriatestandardisationofthechargesize,toensuretherapidlossof
perceptionandsensationinanimalsofdifferentkindsandsizes.Similarly,theoptimaldimensionof
thecaptiveboltmustbefoundandfinallythebestshootingpositionanddirectionduringapplicationof
thecaptiveboltdevicefortherespectivetypeofanimalforslaughter.Thismustbebasedonthe
experiencethattheresultsgainedforonespeciescannotsimplybetransferredtoanother.Furthera
subsequentregulationoftheofficialapprovalforstunningdevices,themethodsofapplicationafter
scientificreviewandaregularnotificationofapproveddevicesmustalreadybeconsidered,asmusta
regularofficialauditofapproveddevicesusedforstunning.Anappropriatetrainingofthepersonnel
concernedisalsointended.

Onthewholetheinsightsintoresponsesofthecerebralcortextoinvasionandinterferencewiththe
organismofananimalforslaughtergainedthroughtheexistingresearchbriefshouldalsogiveriseto
placingtheresearchofsensoryphysiologyinanimalsincreasinglyinthecentreofveterinarymedicinal
research.Whyshouldthemeasurablebrainfunctionsnotalsobegivenparticularrelevanceduring
diagnostics!

Finallyafewthoughtsontherelevanceofnewscientificfindingsforexistinglaw:
Newscientificfindingsandtheresultspresentedareonlyaveryfirstcontributionwhichshowthat
theritualcutcausesaveryrapidlossofconsciousnesshaveanimmediatebearingonlyifthepractice
ritualslaughtercomesundertheheadingofcausingpain(articles1and4para.1TierSchG).

Theydonotaffecttherequirementforstunningcontainedinarticle4para1TierSchGandtheLawon
slaughterof1933withtheexceptionofthereligiousslaughter/ritualcutprotectedaspartofthe
freedomofreligiouspracticebythehigherorderconstitutionallaw.Newfindingsofthiskindmay
maketheoriginalconsiderationsonthisissueforincludingtherequirementofstunningintotheabove
mentionedlawsappearirrelevant.Aslawsdo,however,remaininforceirrespectiveofthecauses
whichleadtotheirenactment,suchfindingsaretothisextentwithoutconsequence.

Itmust,however,beconsideredseparatelytowhatdegreeandinwhichwaysuchfindingsshouldbe
consideredduringtherestructuringoftheLawonslaughter.

ThesameapplieswithregardtothestunningrequirementdemandedinthedirectiveoftheCouncilof
EuropeanCommunitiesdated18November1974onthestunningofanimalspriortoslaughter(1974).
Heretoo,newscientificfindingscanonlygiverisetodeliberations,whethersuchaninstructionisor
maybecontinuestobefactuallyjustified,buttheycannotquestionthevalidityofthisinstruction.
Newfindingsmust,therefore,beleftoutoftheconsiderationtowhatextentthenationalLawof
Slaughtermeetsthedemandsoftheabovementioneddirective.Theycanonlyberelevantwhen
determiningthespecialcasesinarticle3oftheabovementionedECdirective,asthereligiously
mandatedritualslaughter/ritualcutincludedasanexemptionshouldbereevaluatedagainstthe
backgroundoflegalreasoning.

Summary
ThedeliberationsontherestructuringoftheLawofslaughtermustwithrespecttothearea
stunning/killingmainlyfollowtheguidelinesofarticle4TierSchG.TheLawofslaughterisseenasan
integralpartoftheAnimalWelfareLegislation.Thisstipulatesgenerallythatthestandardsof
evaluationfortheprotectionofanimalsshouldincreasinglybeorientedonexactandreproducible
scientificfindings.Theapproach,preparation,andimplementationaswellastheresultsofaresearch
projectoftheBMLattheClinicforsmallclawedanimalsandforensicmedicineandmobileclinicofthe
veterinaryuniversityofHanoverinthecontextofconventional(captiveboltstunning)andritual(ritual
cut)slaughterofsmallruminantsarebeingreported.
Theinsightsgainedthroughcomparativeinvestigationintothesensoryphysiologicalprocessesduring
theslaughteroftheseanimalsdifferinpartsgreatlyfromexistingconceptions.Thenecessary
conclusionsarebeingdiscussedandfinallytheeffectsonthelegalsituationarebeingcommentedon.

Bibliography
[nottranslated]
[returntotop]
Introduction|Profile|Articles|Books|Qur'an|Search|Contact
Copyright2000SahibMustaqimBleher

http://www.mustaqim.co.uk/halalstudy.htm

6/6