A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita)
Over the last several decades an alternative to current methods of stunning cattle has been developed. This system, DTS: Diathermic Syncope®, has been suggested to the Jewish and Muslim communities as a means to achieve pre-cut stunning in conformity with both religious and EU regulations without a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Welfare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728623000866/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797668819001409536 |
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| author | Ari Z Zivotofsky |
| author_facet | Ari Z Zivotofsky |
| author_sort | Ari Z Zivotofsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Over the last several decades an alternative to current methods of stunning cattle has been developed. This system, DTS: Diathermic Syncope®, has been suggested to the Jewish and Muslim communities as a means to achieve pre-cut stunning in conformity with both religious and EU regulations without a need to resort to a derogation that permits an exemption from the EU requirement to pre-stun all animals undergoing slaughter. The developer’s contention is that the system induces fainting, and thus should be acceptable to all groups, including the kosher (Jewish) and Halal (Muslim) consumer. A review of the system based on publications and reports from the developer itself suggests that in reality the system selectively heats the brain, leading to an epileptic-type seizure with tonic-clonic phases and unconsciousness lasting several minutes. It does not induce a (benign) faint, and use of the system might cause structural brain damage. Thus, this system is unlikely to be acceptable under Jewish religious law and its animal welfare value can be questioned. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:35:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2254b71d29724467aa5c6916844032c1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:35:01Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Welfare |
| spelling | doaj.art-2254b71d29724467aa5c6916844032c12023-10-02T07:01:17ZengCambridge University PressAnimal Welfare0962-72862054-15382023-01-013210.1017/awf.2023.86A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita)Ari Z Zivotofsky0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7452-5382The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, IsraelOver the last several decades an alternative to current methods of stunning cattle has been developed. This system, DTS: Diathermic Syncope®, has been suggested to the Jewish and Muslim communities as a means to achieve pre-cut stunning in conformity with both religious and EU regulations without a need to resort to a derogation that permits an exemption from the EU requirement to pre-stun all animals undergoing slaughter. The developer’s contention is that the system induces fainting, and thus should be acceptable to all groups, including the kosher (Jewish) and Halal (Muslim) consumer. A review of the system based on publications and reports from the developer itself suggests that in reality the system selectively heats the brain, leading to an epileptic-type seizure with tonic-clonic phases and unconsciousness lasting several minutes. It does not induce a (benign) faint, and use of the system might cause structural brain damage. Thus, this system is unlikely to be acceptable under Jewish religious law and its animal welfare value can be questioned.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728623000866/type/journal_articleanimal welfareelectrical stunningfaintinghumane slaughterJewish religious lawpre-slaughter stunning |
| spellingShingle | Ari Z Zivotofsky A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) Animal Welfare animal welfare electrical stunning fainting humane slaughter Jewish religious law pre-slaughter stunning |
| title | A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) |
| title_full | A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) |
| title_fullStr | A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) |
| title_full_unstemmed | A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) |
| title_short | A review of the DTS: Diathermic Syncope® system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter (shechita) |
| title_sort | review of the dts diathermic syncope r system with a discussion regarding its use for kosher slaughter shechita |
| topic | animal welfare electrical stunning fainting humane slaughter Jewish religious law pre-slaughter stunning |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728623000866/type/journal_article |
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