Book of Hunting and Ritual Slaughter

An animal that can be ritually slaughtered must be killed by cutting its throat or the hollow at the base of its neck. If that is impossible, then killing it by wounding it wherever one can reach it suffices.

Perfect slaughter comprises four acts: severing the trachea, the esophagus, and both jugular veins. The minimum that meets the requirement is to sever the trachea and the esophagus.

It is permissible to hunt with any trained predator—whether a beast or a bird of prey. Its training is recognized when four conditions are met: (1) when released, it goes forth; (2) when called back, it returns; (3) when it kills game, it does not eat from it; and (4) this behavior is shown consistently. If any of these conditions is absent, whatever it captures is unlawful unless the game is found alive and then slaughtered.

Slaughter may be performed with any instrument that cuts or pierces, except a tooth or a claw.

The slaughter carried out by a Muslim or by a member of the People of the Book is lawful; that of a Magian or an idol-worshipper is not.

A fetus is rendered lawful by the slaughter of its mother, unless it emerges alive, in which case it must be slaughtered separately.

Anything severed from a living animal is carrion.