Current technical-scientific advances allow a reappraisal of some practices used during religious slaughter without compromising its deep and essential meaning, through to the identification of techniques that limit the nonhuman animal vigilance without causing any lesion that may impair its integrity. All this in respect of religious principles of the Jewish and Muslim community and in respect of animal welfare, minimizing as much as possible the risk of causing useless suffering to the animals. A demonstrative slaughter was performed in a slaughterhouse of the Modena province (Italy): ritual incision of the neck vessels was preceded by stunning to explore the feasibility that lessening animal suffering could conform to religious prescriptions, as it does in other countries. Two alternative methods to classical ritual slaughter without prior stunning were illustrated in order to limit animal suffering during killing and comply with Islamic ritual requirements.

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The public is becoming increasingly concerned about how nonhuman animals are treated, and many studies show that European citizens are concerned about farm animal welfare. Religious slaughter has always been a controversial and emotive subject, caught between animal welfare considerations, cultural and human rights issues. There is considerable variation in current practices, and the rules regarding religious requirements are still confusing. Similarly, consumer demands and concerns also need to be addressed. Therefore, there is a need for information relating to slaughter techniques as well as product range, consumer expectations, market share, and socioeconomic issues. This research aims at identifying the procedures for current methods of religious slaughter in Italy. Conventional slaughter is performed with prior stunning; kosher slaughter is practiced without stunning. Halal slaughter is performed for most of the animals without stunning. Halal slaughter with prior stunning is accepted for 5.9% of small ruminants. Questionnaires were sent to regional health authorities, and spot-check visits were conducted on cattle, sheep, and poultry abattoirs in Italy from October 2008 to March 2009. The observed B. T. Cenci-Goga et al. / Society & Animals 21 (2013) 459-488 parameters are discussed in regards to the risk to animal welfare. Observations not only on restraining methods, but also on post-cut, clinical indicators of consciousness are considered. This research is the first, systematic attempt to analyze the methods of religious slaughter and to discuss the implications for animal welfare.