The Florida Senate

828.23  Definitions; ss. 828.22-828.26.--As used in ss. 828.22-828.26, the following words shall have the meanings indicated:

(1)  "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

(2)  "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, or association doing business in this state, in whole or in part.

(3)  "Slaughter" means the act of killing one or more livestock animals for any purpose.

(4)  "Slaughterer" means any person other than a licensed veterinarian, or an employee of a humane society or animal control agency, who kills livestock.

(5)  "Livestock" means cattle, calves, sheep, swine, horses, mules, goats, ostriches, rheas, emus, and any other domestic animal that can or may be used in the preparation of animal products. For the purposes of ss. 828.22-828.26, "livestock" does not include poultry and aquatic species.

(6)  "Humane method" means:

(a)  A method whereby the animal is rapidly and effectively rendered insensitive to pain by electrical or chemical means or by a penetrating captive bolt or gunshot with appropriate caliber and placement; or

(b)  A method in accordance with ritual requirements of any religious faith whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument.

History.--s. 1, ch. 61-254; ss. 14, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 282, ch. 71-377; s. 4, ch. 92-206; s. 38, ch. 2001-279.