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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.

Chapter 945 | Humane Slaughter Of Livestock

 
 
 
Section
Section 945.01 | Humane methods of slaughtering livestock.
 

After July 1, 1967, no method of slaughtering livestock or handling in connection with the commercial slaughtering of livestock shall be utilized unless it is humane. Without limiting other methods as may be prescribed by the secretary of agriculture of the United States, pursuant to "Act of August 27, 1958," 72 Stat. 862, 7 U.S.C.A. 1902, the following methods are deemed humane:

(A) In the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical, or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut;

(B) By slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a methods of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument.

Section 945.02 | Ritual slaughter exemption.
 

Nothing in section 945.01 of the Revised Code shall be construed to prohibit, abridge, or in any way hinder the religious freedom of any person or group. Notwithstanding any other provisions of such section, in order to protect freedom of religion, ritual slaughter, and the handling or other preparation of livestock for ritual slaughter are exempted from the terms of section 945.01 of the Revised Code.

For the purposes of this section, "ritual slaughter" means slaughter in accordance with division (B) of section 945.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 945.03 | Inspection of establishments.
 

All establishments engaged in the operation of commercial slaughtering of livestock as set forth in section 945.01 of the Revised Code shall be open to inspection, as to compliance with sections 945.01 and 945.02 of the Revised Code, at all reasonable times by any duly authorized officer.

Section 945.99 | Penalty.
 

Whoever violates section 945.01 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars.