A bill to outlaw inhumane handling of food animals prior to their slaughter, previously cleared with Orthodox Jewish leaders, was introduced here today with the backing of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Thus far, there has been no formal position taken on the bill by most Jewish organizations, which are expected to act on the issue later this month.
The measure offers "an economical, defensible and persuasive law" to eliminate two features of slaughterhouse practice–the shackling and hoisting of conscious large beef animals in preparation for slaughter, and the use of manually operated hammers, sledges and pole axes, the ASPCA said in a memorandum accompanying the bill. The association said it felt that the proposed bill, which would go into effect January 1, 1966, overcomes the objections that have led to the defeat of more than a dozen humane slaughter measures in the Legislature since 1959.
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