OPINION: Animal welfare is a painful issue at this time of year
As we approach a time where turkeys meet their end in their millions, Jewish News' historian Derek Taylor reflects on the ethics of animal welfare.
To add to your other problems there is going to be a shortage of turkeys this winter because Avian Flu is killing them left, right and centre. To such an extent that 2.3 million chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese have had to be killed already to stop the infection spreading. That’s two fifths of the total in the country.
One of the culprits for the spread is wild birds. Do you know that no less than 55 million pheasants and partridges are raised every year to be let loose when they’re older and shot. Of course a lot are only wounded and die in agony, and you would expect the British Veterinary Association and the RSPCA to campaign vigorously for the government to put a stop to the slaughter.
What both organisations do is protest at the shechita and halal bodies refusing to pre-stun animals before they are killed. The chief medical adviser to the vets, Lord Trees, is insistent that animals killed by shechita can suffer pain for up to two minutes. Shechita was described in the House of Lords as barbaric and absolutely unacceptable.
In 2004 Lord Trees said in the House of Lords, “In a civilised society like ours, we should do all we can to dissuade individuals from pursuing leisure activities resulting in the killing of animals.
Yet there are still 55 million pheasants and partridges raised to be released and shot every year! I don’t think the efforts to dissuade are being very successful. Not to mention the shooting of deer.
This row over shechita and halal has been going on a long time. Lord Sheikh, the first Muslim peer, who died in September, stated clearly in the Lords in 2014 that “Islam forbids the mistreatment of animals.”
The fact is that both religions insist on the humane treatment of animals. Our fourth commandment makes it clear that they are to have the day off on Shabbot. I wonder if today’s farmers in Norfolk apply that rule and, whether the BVA is trying to make animals working on Sunday illegal.
55 million pheasants and partridges are raised every year to be let loose when they’re older and shot.
In the killing of animals for food, we are talking about a number of humane laws which are included in religious instructions. Hunting is strictly forbidden in the Talmud.
Two minutes is also highly questionable. There are plenty of respected academics in the world who question it. The cutting of the carotid artery in shechita removes blood from the heart, causing unconsciousness and death. How long does that take? Some say seconds and, properly done by shochets, the animal shows no sign of pain.
I’m sure Lord Trees still believes that hunting is wrong. The members of the BVA, however, are very dependent in the country on the needs of farmers, and advocating a ban on shooting pheasants is unlikely to be popular.
So the government is highly likely to ignore the whole subject. They’re unpopular enough already.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
