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February 25, 2010

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Killing porkers with kindness

A PIG deserves at least 12 hours being alone, some walking, patting, and music if possible, before being slaughtered, a central China city authority has ordered.

Zhengzhou City Commerce Commission said it imposed the requirements as a part of a humane slaughter campaign. They said a peaceful slaughter would add more flavor to the pork, the Henan Business Daily reported yesterday.

Music should be played and butchers must help the pigs to relax, according to the officials.

Any slaughterhouse found violating the rules will be fined 50,000 yuan (US$7,324), they said.

An advocate of the humane killing techniques told Zhengzhou Evening News he had never heard of any mandatory rules like this one.

Slaughterhouse owners complained about the costs.

An owner surnamed Han said it is advisable to keep pigs in a roomy area for rest and to stop them from eating before the killing, but the rules are impractical for some small slaughterhouses.

Han added that getting pigs together before being killed also posed the potential risk of cross-infecting diseases.

Internet users chided the campaign, calling the regulations impractical.

An official with the provincial commerce commission reportedly said the mandatory 12-hour rest could assure the best taste of pork and prevent waterlogged pork from entering the market.




 

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