Thiruvananthapuram: The Centre has issued strict instructions to end the practice of killing animals in unscientific ways for consumption. Animals must be slaughtered only using scientific methods, and states must put proper system in place, the Animal Welfare Board of India has directed the state Chief Secretaries.

Currently, in most places, animals are stunned by hitting them on the head with a hammer. The directive says this practice must end. One scientific method is pneumatic stunning, which applies high pressure to the animal’s forehead. Another method is stunning with a firearm on the forehead.

The Animal Welfare Board also instructed that the animals’ blood must be properly drained, and meat should be collected scientifically and hygienically. Establishing scientific slaughterhouses that can serve multiple districts is the practical approach, said Dr. Salil Kutty, Managing Director of Meat Products of India.