HALAL LIVING

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	International Vegetarian Union
	The Humane Center for Animal Welfare (Jordan)
	Hayawan.org

Facts about the source of some "halal" meat.

Problem 1: Improper Loading and Unloading of Cattle

Cattle are forced to jump off trucks without ramps by such methods as beating and tail-breaking. Cattle too injured to move are often left at the foot of the vehicle while others are forced to land on top of them.

The delegation witnessed Indian cattle, who were barely more than skin stretched over bones, being subjected to severe cruelty throughout the entire transportation process. The animals' suffering begins with and is the most severe during loading and unloading onto the trucks used for much of their transport and also during the journey by road.

Proper loading requires a workable loading ramp. Sometimes this ramp is permanent, stable, and properly graded to enable relatively easy movement of cattle into the trucks. At other times, ramps are small, uneven, shifting mounds of dirt or cobbled-together pieces of wood subject to rot and breakage. These makeshift ramps very often cause the cattle to slip and fall, injuring themselves and jeopardizing the workers.

Infections and wounds caused by beatings and purposely inflicted injuries are routinely found on Indian cattle.

Unloading procedures are appalling. While some unloading is carried out on suitable permanent ramps, most frequently the delegation witnessed trucks backed up to the sides of hills. The steep, muddy incline of the hillside caused the cows to slip and fall while trying to negotiate their footing. Many of these falls resulted in broken legs, broken pelvises, and other injuries.

Cows have a wide field of vision (greater than 300 degrees) and will often balk or refuse to move in new situations. They may also be hesitant to move when they become frightened by shadows (much unloading is done at night with artificial light) or by a change in flooring surface or texture.

In most cases, no effort was made to provide a gradual decline for the unloading of the cattle. Instead, the cattle were forced to jump or were beaten and pushed from the high beds of the trucks onto the ground below. On some occasions, we witnessed downed cows and bullocks left at the foot of the truck while other cattle were forced to jump down and land on them, causing further injuries.

The Solution:

All loading and unloading must be done via properly built ramps or loading docks. Cattle must not be forced to jump or be pulled from truck beds.

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Sponsored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.