This has nothing to do with the tal_air.html page, which went up in 1997. It does concern halachica. - Stan

Note: According to at least one Rabbi, this issue does not make the meat itself treif.

Most slaughter by shohatim in South America is accomplished in a particularly cruel manner. The technique includes tilting the animal to trip it, followed by chaining one of the animal's hind legs. The animal is then lifted by the one chained leg and the shochet makes the cut. This is done while the animal is suspended by the leg.

While the animal is dangling, and before the shochet makes the cut, a second worker locks the head into a crescent-shaped device that has been grafted onto a long iron rod.

In addition to the obvious cruelty, the leg is often broken, which further places the kashruith in question.

This particular technique is improper shehita because it violates tzaar baalei chayim. It is not used in kosher slaughter in the US, and presumably is not used in Canada or Europe.

This method has been abandoned in the US, where ASPCA pens or Grandin pens are in use.

In other words, the slaughter technique used in South America is a violation of tzaar baalei chayim (causing needless suffering of animals). I leave it to the reader (and the rabbis) as to whether it is acceptable to violate tzaar baalei chayim.

Cruel techniques are presumably also used at Haredi plants in Buenos Aires, which also claims to export "kosher" meat to Israel.

What Can Be Done?

If you are involved with the religious communities, do not let the issue be ignored. Even if your meat is obtained through a local schochet, it is still possible to obtain a ruling on imported meat.

The concept of kosher shehita (and halal slaughter according to Islamic shariah) is that, when properly performed, the technique is more humane. Proponents state that kosher slaughter is specifically more humane than techniques using bolts and electrical shock. (see Evaluation by Temple Grandin.)

If you have only peripheral contact with the religious communities, it is simply a matter of following your own conscience on the matter. Your concerns are still considered valid and should be addressed by the rabbis.

Rabbinical Opinion on tzaar baalei chayim During Shechita

According to Reb. Jonathan Blass of Yeshiva Beit-El,

"Causing animals needless suffering is a serious offence (there is a difference of opinion as to whether it is forbidden by the Torah or by rabbinical edict). An animal that has suffered needlessly is not, however, rendered non-kosher unless one of its organs was damaged in a manner that would make it a treifa. Any suffering that is a necessary part of the shechita is not needless and would not be included in the prohibition against tzaar baalei chayim."
at www.yeshive.org.il
or ("print friendly" version)

According to this, the meat itself is kosher. My personal reaction (as a secular lawyer) is that this still leaves the issue open as to whether the South American practices are "needless" or a necessary part of the shechita. Clearly it's not a necessary part of the shechita in North America. According to the Rabbi, the violation of tzaar baalei chayim does not make the meat treifa. This is important because this would make it easier for an individual to avoid meat slaughtered in violation of tzaar baalei chayim at prepared at home, but still accept kashruith declarations elsewhere.

I have not researched whether US Rabbis consider such meat to be treif if slaughtered in North America.

Further information:

first posted 14 Aug 01; last modified 6 Mar 05. Copyright 2001.
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Written by Stan Protigal, using WordPerfect 5.1 ~~ Any Damn Browser.