Barbaric Kosher slaughter is on the rise thanks to Chris Nixon of the Victorian Farmers Federation who is cashing in on the cruelty. To condone such a crude, cruel slaughter is immoral and unconscionable, however, Mr Chris Nixon has chosen to profit from this violent ritual slaughter.

Mr Nixon was president of the VFF,at present, he is Chair of the VFF's Animal Welfare Committee. Disturbing? Oh yes! Profiting from the sickening practice of Kosher slaughter, while sitting on a committee for animal welfare. Kosher slaughter is frowned upon by all animal welfare groups and people world wide, and for good reason. Animals slaughtered 'kosher' have their throats cut while fully conscious, NO stunning.

WHAT A HYPOCRITE

As Chair of the VFF's Animal Welfare Committee, Mr Nixon appears to have little interest in welfare, instead his interest appears to lean towards ensuring farm animals are profitable. Equally as worrying is his attitude toward compassionate animal advocates:

Animal Welfare is a serious concern for food and fibre producers.  It is commonly said that a healthy animal is a profitable animal and that is clearly the goal for all farmers.  It is important to maintain market access and the VFF continues to work within the industry to develop livestock codes. 

Protection of farm facilities

The VFF have been pursuing better protections of farming facilities from the willful damage created by extremist animal activities.  We have recently reports incidences where barns have been broken into, damaged equipment, lights and glass and in a clearly malice attempt to injure workers have placed broken glass in gumboots.

There is no excuse for trespassing and destruction of private property and there needs to be stronger protection for farmers from this type of attack. The U.S. has implemented strict protections for farmer that should be given consideration for Victoria.

Further information in the below link:

http://www.vff.org.au/vff/Policy/Policy_Committees/Animal_Welfare/vff/Policy___Submissions/Animal_Welfare.aspx?hkey=b6a0897b-a157-47be-9d3f-318ad98da0d7

Mr Nixon, who farms dairy and beef cattle in Gippsland (Victoria, Australia) has  publicly expressed his desire to 'cash in' on the kosher slaughter market. Given Mr Nixon's long standing association with the VFF it can only be assumed that he has its backing and the backing of the Australian Farmers Federation who must also condone this cruel ritual slaughter. It is important to mention that the VFF/AFF support the live animal export trade, so it is hardly surprising that both associations would support ritual slaughter on Australian soil.

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-herd-targets-kosher-markets-but-ruffles-feathers-in-jewish-community-20160415-go7g44.html

COURTESTY OF RSPCA AUSTRALIA:

The RSPCA is concerned there are much greater risks of an animal suffering during slaughter without stunning than for conventional slaughter. Slaughtering an animal while fully conscious requires additional handling and restraint and means that the animal will experience pain associated with the throat cut and subsequent bleeding out. For these reasons, the RSPCA is strongly opposed to all forms of slaughter that do not involve prior stunning of the animal. Where the RSPCA is opposed to a practice we believe is cruel – but not illegal – we engage with the relevant industries and government with the ultimate aim to see an end to the practice.

Kosher describes what is ‘fit and proper’ for people of the Jewish faith to consume. Kosher food laws are based on interpretation of the Bible and the Torah, the Judaic scriptures, and set out a range of beverages and foods (including meat) that are acceptable to drink and eat. 

For meat to be Kosher, the animal must be slaughtered in a particular way, so the Rabbi in a Kosher abattoir is a specially trained religious slaughterer. The animal must be killed so it feels little pain. A very sharp knife is used to cut the oesophagus, the trachea, carotid arteries and jugular veins in one smooth action. There must be no pause during the action nor excessive pressure on the blade. Failure to meet these specific requirements renders the animal unkosher.

The national standard for meat production in Australia is that all animals must be effectively stunned (unconscious) prior to slaughter. Kosher slaughter does not comply with this standard.

FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE BELOW RSPCA LINK:

 http://kb.rspca.org.au/what-is-kosher-slaughter-in-australia_117.html

AUSTRALIA IS NOT ALONE IN ITS DISGUST TOWARD THIS GRUSOME SLAUGHTER PRACTICE - WARNING THIS IS VERY DISTURBING

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2581918/Meat-cattle-slaughtered-cruel-kosher-ceremony-high-street-burger.html​

http://www.theweek.co.uk/politics/19151/proof-pain-leads-calls-ban-ritual-slaughter

NEW ZEALAND BANS KOSHER SLAUGHTER ON CRUELTY GROUNDS:

https://jonathanturley.org/2010/05/30/new-zealand-bans-kosher-slaughtering/

WARNING EXTREMELY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING VIDEO FOOTAGE OF KOSHER SLAUGHTER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSOg_TUMZGQ

COURTESY OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY UNITED STATES - WARNING EXTREMELY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING VIDEO FOOTAGE OF KOSHER SLAUGHTER:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOJhvrIkgYc