ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED BY RELIGIOUS METHODS

HL Deb 14 February 1994 vol 552 c5WA

Baroness Mallalieu

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many (a) sheep and (b) cattle were slaughtered by (a) Shechita—the Jewish method of slaughter and (b) Halal—the Muslim method of slaughter without pre-slaughter stunning in the year to February 1994 and how much of the meat from animals so slaughtered was sold on the general retail market without being so described.

The Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Howe)

This information is not maintained centrally and could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost. Our most recent estimates, based on information obtained in 1987 are that less than 2 per cent. of cattle and less than 4 per cent. of sheep in Great Britain are slaughtered under the exemption from prior stunning. Information on the marketing of meat from animals slaughtered by religious methods without prior stunning is not available.