Horror Slaughter in Australia, Too | Warning: Graphic Photo

Horror Slaughter in Australia Too



Horror Slaughter in Australia Too
by Alice Springs Vegan Society on Friday, June 3, 2011 at 6:43pm

Dear Editor of the Centralian Advocate,



The response to ABC's Four Corners documentary about cow slaughter in

Indonesia has been overwhelming.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2011/s3228880.htm



Although halal, or slaughtering in

accordance with Islamic law, may technically allow cows to be stunned before

they are killed, in practice the definition of "halal" does not permit

stunning.



There are many halal and kosher slaughterhouses on Australian soil that do

not stun cows before they are killed, as they get exemptions for ritual

slaughter from meat inspection authorities.



Despite the standard requiring stunning, even non-halal Australian

slaughterhouses kill many cows whilst they are fully awake. At an average non-

halal Aussie slaughterhouse, about 250 cows are killed every hour. Captive-

bolt stunning is inherently imprecise and workers are under constant pressure

to keep up the speed of the disassembly line. As a result, many cows are

still conscious when they are hoisted up by one leg, breaking bones and

tearing ligaments in the process, and their throats are cut and dismemberment

begins. Other Australian cows are stunned and then wake up during slaughter.

In the words of a former slaughterhouse worker; "On bad days, dozens of

animals reached my station clearly alive and conscious. Some would survive as

far as the tail cutter, the belly ripper, the hide puller. They die piece by

piece." So much for Australian superiority and the harmful anti-Muslim

sentiments that it can perpetuate.



Nearly nine million cows are killed in Australia per year and, with these

numbers, it is impossible to enforce the so-called stunning standard any more

than it already is. Cows are prodded into the holding stall with a high-

voltage electric prod. They are fully aware of what lies ahead. The physical

symptoms of terror are painfully evident on the faces of every animal. The

animals can smell the blood, and see their former companions in various

stages of dismemberment. Cows are routinely castrated, spayed, dehorned and

hot-iron branded without any pain relief.



There is no easy, clean way to oppress someone. There is no significant

difference between halal meat and so-called "humane" meat. Regardless of

country, all meat, dairy and eggs come from animals who have been tortured,

even under the very best of conditions. Our only excuse for this use of

animals as objects is that they taste good.



People who care about Australian cows in Indonesia may wish to consider

whether to consume any animal products at all. Each of us has the power to

stop this abhorrent violence now simply by eating delicious vegan food

instead.



Jeff Perz,

Alice Springs Vegan Society