Section 31.59 Humane Slaughter of Livestock; Definitions - Minnesota Statutes

31.59 HUMANE SLAUGHTER OF LIVESTOCK; DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Scope.

For the purposes of sections 31.59 to 31.592 the following terms have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2.Slaughterer.

"Slaughterer" means any person, partnership, corporation, or association regularly engaged in the commercial slaughtering of livestock.

Subd. 3.Livestock.

"Livestock" means cattle, horses, swine, sheep and goats.

Subd. 4.Humane methods.

"Humane methods" means:

(1) Any method of slaughtering livestock which normally causes animals to be rendered insensible to pain by a single blow of a mechanical instrument or shot of a firearm or by chemical, or other means that are rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or

(2) The methods of preparation necessary to safe handling of the animals for Halal ritual slaughter, Jewish ritual slaughter and of slaughtering required by the ritual of the Islamic or Jewish faith, whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument.

Subd. 5.Inhumane method.

The use of a manually operated hammer or sledge is declared an inhumane method of slaughter.

History:

1959 c 670 s 1; 2001 c 54 s 1