[Deleted as offensive.]

Please find a completely different Understanding of the non-humans, and of killing too, via these 2 related references.

http://www.fearnomorezoo.org/literature/observe_learn.php

http://www.dabase.org/p9rightness.htm

On food-taking and sustenance altogether

http://www.aboutadidam.org/readings/edible_deity/index.html

Perhaps it has been due to sheer survival pressures but with rare exceptions Christianity has no tradition of vegetarianism. Does Islam have any tradition of vegetarianism?

Jewish and Muslim methods of killing food animals were originally because the life was in the blood (theological belief at the time, and humans should not eat other beings' lives) and to be kinder than other methods used around them.
It is ironic that as our knowledge has increased about animals, the old methods survive as being more cruel than what is now possible.
Many human practices survive as tradition, when our knowledge is better.

Stun guns should be mandatory in all facilities.

Just to get methods of killing into perspective ...

The guillotine - 7 kg weight, razor sharp blade and rapid movement, was developed in the 18th century as the most humane way of execution.

Dr Harold Hillman, however, states that the painless death believed to occur with use of the guillotine was anything but.

"death occurs due to separation of the brain and spinal cord, after transection of the surrounding tissues. This must cause acute and possibly severe pain."

This is why the guillotine, and beheading in general, is no longer acceptable methods in many countiries with capital punishment.

There is also debate as to whether consciousness remains. Whilst some experts believe that immediate loss of consciousness would result, other experts claim that (depending upon the expert) consciousness remains anything from 3 seconds to 15 seconds. Presumably due to oxygenated blood remaining within the brain.

As the contributor above stated, ritual killing was probably the most humane method at that historic period. However, we have moved on from then. This method remains barbaric, and is certainly not free of distress, fear and pain to the animal.

As a civilized people, Australian society should not tolerate any barbaric method of handling animals. .

A civilized society is recognised by the way it treats its young, elderly, disabled and also its animals.

Amendation to the above ...

Dr Harold Hillman, one of the scientists who errs on the side of caution, states that consciousness would remain 2-3 seconds after decapitation.

(Hillman, Harold "An unnatural way to die." New Scientist, October 27, 1983, pg 276-278.)

We have methods, such as the stun gun, to prevent distress to the animal (also a more efficient and manageable way to handle killing). Other lesser methods should not be countenanced.