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The Iowa secretary of agriculture, chief rabbinate in Israel, and the Orthodox Union weigh in on AgriProcessors. Read their reactions here.
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AgriProcessors workers ignore the suffering of cows who are still sensible to pain after having their throats slit by the ritual slaughterer. The animals stagger and slip in blood while their tracheas dangle from their necks.
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Statement of Dr. Bernard Rollin,
Colorado State University
Dear Mr. Akin,
I have been directly involved in animal ethics for almost thirty years in a mainstream way. I have taught the world's first course in veterinary ethics and animal welfare at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine as a required part of the curriculum since 1978. I was a principal author of 1985 federal law regarding laboratory animals and have written standard works on animal research and animal agriculture.
Based on my experience, I can unequivocally affirm that what was depicted on this videotape is one of the most atrocious incidents I have ever witnessed. What occurred with the cattle shown is truly nightmarish. The use of the inverted killing pen obviously causes fear and distress—virtually no one uses such outmoded equipment any longer. The tearing of the trachea was both horrendous and absolutely unnecessary; the conscious animal staggering around in excruciating pain and fear with its throat cut and repeatedly hot-shotted was evidence of brutality at a level I could not have imagined. That such behavior can not only be tolerated but encouraged at a time in history when social concern for animals is at its height is appalling, and evidences cavalier disregard of any semblance of morality.
As a person brought up in the Jewish tradition and as one who studied the Talmud, I was personally aggrieved and ashamed. The purpose of kosher slaughter was historically humaneness, a skillful cut with a sharp knife being far easier on the animal than being subjected to repeated blunt trauma. What one sees in this video is a hideous mockery of that purpose, one sure to elicit grave social doubts about ritual slaughter.
Such behavior cannot be allowed in civilized society. This plant has shown itself unworthy of even minimal trust, and should be closed down.
Sincerely,
Bernard E. Rollin
University Distinguished Professor
Colorado State University
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