Sheep and dairy calves are mostly subjected to an 'electrical stunning' device that sends an electric current across the brain, rendering them unconscious. This is the fate of a staggering 31 million sheep and 8 million cattle every year in Australia.
How are sheep slaughtered? In large abattoirs, sheep are often mechanically carried to the stunning area in single file in a V-shaped restrainer conveyor. In small plants they are moved in groups to a pen where they are individually stunned. Sheep may be stunned using either electricity or a captive-bolt pistol.
Animals are legally required to be stunned before they are slaughtered in Australia. The purpose of stunning is to make sure animals are unconscious to minimise the risk of them experiencing any pain, suffering or distress during bleed out and prior to death.
Technically, per slaughterhouse guidelines, large animals like cows, pigs, and sheep are supposed to be killed slowly by loss of blood, or exsanguination. Because the cruelty of this is self-evident, regulations also require animals be "stunned" before having their throats slit.
Halal slaughter requires that the animal is killed from the throat cut and bleeding out process rather than the stunning method. Kosher slaughter has similar requirements, however in Australia does not currently accept reversible stunning methods.
Minimally painful and complete bleeding is required during halal slaughter, which is difficult to perform in large animals [69].
McDonald's meat patties are produced from 100% pure halal beef with no additives, preservatives or flavor enhancers.
They were stressed, petrified and piled up on top of each other. While waiting to be killed, the animals screamed in agony as they wounded themselves on the metal gratings. When animals are slaughtered, they are not completely stunned and are still aware of what is happening.
The slaughter process has two stages: Stunning, when performed correctly, causes an animal to lose consciousness, so the animal can't feel pain. The law states that, with few exceptions, all animals must be stunned before 'sticking' (neck cutting) is carried out.
Despite the HMSA, mammals also suffer similarly at slaughterhouses, including violent handling and being fully conscious when having their throats slit, when entering scald tanks, and even when being dismembered.
Horses are shot at knackeries, whereas at abattoirs, a penetrative captive bolt is used.
Animals must be fully stunned—unconscious and insensible to pain—before they're shackled, strung up, and slaughtered. But so many animals remain alert to what's happening through to the very end. Animals must also be able to walk into the slaughterhouse on their own.
Processing/slaughter
Chickens are stunned (rendered unconscious) before slaughter. In Australia, stunning occurs either by electrical waterbath stunning or controlled atmosphere (gas) stunning). Chickens have to be removed from their crates and be consciously shackled for the electrical stunning process.
During their short lives, they undergo painful mutilations, including tail-docking with rubber rings or knives and castration of males – all without painkillers.
Slaughterhouse work has been associated with many negative effects on mental health, and workers have higher levels of depression and anxiety than other professions. Workers in Brazil report cognitive impairments, stress, and difficulty sleeping.
The most humane methods are those which cause a rapid loss of blood so that death is brought about as quickly as possible. These include ventral neck cuts (for poultry, sheep and goats) and chest sticking (for cattle, sheep, goats and pigs).
Cow cries before slaughter. They sense their final destiny. Don't be a reason behind their suffering.
The sound of pigs screaming can be heard echoing throughout the walls of slaughterhouses and even factory farms. Their cries are loud and piercing: clear signs of distress.
Mammals and birds also experience fear and pain, as well as being deprived of their lives. In many countries animals are supposed to be stunned first so they don't suffer, or at least suffer less, when they are killed. Animals in slaughterhouses also undergo terrible psychological suffering.
In the abattoir
In Australia, a leading wool-producing country, sheep must legally be stunned prior to slaughter. Stunning occurs by shooting an electrical current through the sheep's brain or with a captive-bolt gun. This is considered global best practice around the world.
Benefit to lambs when it comes to butcher time is that they are the EASIEST 4 legged farm animal to butcher, and yet when you learn how to butcher a lamb, you know 75% of what you need to butcher all the rest of the 4 legged meat animals, pigs, cows, etc!
In Australia, KFC has been certified as halal by the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) since 2011. This means that KFC chicken in Australia is prepared using halal-certified chicken and ingredients and that the cooking process meets halal standards.
All of KFC's chicken suppliers have reputable Halaal certification authorities, including SANHA in some instances, supervising and certifying their facilities and products. This has been the case since KFC started in South Africa in 1971, nothing has changed.
Our food is made to a strict food and safety procedure but it does not include Halal standards for our products. We do not have a halal certification at any of our stores.