Saturday, 07 March 2015 00:00

UK support for non-stun slaughter ban

Written by Rural News Group

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

A petition calling for non-stun livestock slaughter to be banned in the UK hit its target 100,000 signatures last month, says instigator the British Veterinary Association.

“We urge the chairman of the backbench business committee to honour the petition and pledge to debate an end to non-stun slaughter at the first opportunity in the next Parliament,” said BVA president John Blackwell

The petition hit 100,000 two months ahead of its March 30 close and only a handful of e-petitions (0.1%) ever achieve 100,000 signatures, says the BVA.

A 2013 UK Food Standards Authority sample survey of welfare practices at Britain’s 232 red meat slaughterhouses found a 31% increase in cattle not stunned before slaughter for Halal compared to 2011, and a 56% increase (from 28,734 to 44,950) of sheep and goats not stunned.

Meanwhile there was a decrease in kosher (Shechita or non-stunned slaughter) in cattle from 1314 to 475 (-66%), in sheep and goats from 1917 to 601 (-68%) and poultry from 71,236 to 21,716 (-69%).

The results indicate that overall the number of animals not stunned prior to slaughter in Great Britain accounted for 2% of cattle, 10% of sheep and goats, and 4% of poultry.

More like this

A Premier Champion

Eight months ago The New Zealand Cellar didn’t exist in London.

UK farmers plug pollies for ag-friendly policies

UK farmers are putting food production at the centre of the UK general election campaign. UK heads to the polls on May 7.

UK farmers’ milk cheque delayed

If you think New Zealand dairy farmers are struggling with a low milk payout, then spare a thought for their UK counterparts.

UK farmers union on 'wrong track'

FEDERATED FARMERS says Britain's National Farmers Union (NFU) should work with New Zealand to boost British lamb consumption rather than attack New Zealand lamb.

Lamb used as loss leading product in UK

MEAT COMPANIES that supply supermarkets and sell New Zealand lamb as a loss leader in the United Kingdom should lose their access to this valuable quota market, says Labour's Primary Industries spokesperson Damien O'Connor.

Featured

Farm Safety Improves Through 'Incremental Gain', Says Birkett

Improving health and safety is about incremental gain rather than a sudden decision, says Leeston farmer and Federated Farmers health and safety spokesman David Birkett.

Editorial: The Price of Progress

OPINION: Alistair Carmichael raises some interesting questions about striking a balance between profitability in farming and preserving the character of rural communities.

NZ Ploughing Champions' Gear Stuck at Sea Before Worlds

Ploughing champions Mark Dillon and Malcolm Taylor earned the right to represent the country at the World Ploughing Championships in Osijek, Croatia, on 5 and 6 September, after winning their titles at the New Zealand Ploughing Championships in Middlemarch in 2025.

Gallagher Adds Second Production Line as Wearables Boom

The man appointed to lead Gallagher's global Animal Management business through the next stage of growth believes the wearables boom is here.

Moxham Family's Organic Milk Now Comes as Gelato

Horowhenua organic dairy farmers Ange and Wayne Moxham have taken their business to a new level.

Faulkner: Take Rural Infrastructure Out of Politics

Federated Farmers' new vice president Sandra Faulkner says the issue of adverse events emergency management and infrastructure needs to be taken out of the three-year political cycle.