2,313. Convulsions from Ritual Slaughter

Maachalos Assuros 4:13

If someone slaughters a domesticated or wild animal or a bird and blood doesn’t flow from it, it’s still permitted and we don’t suspect that it was already dead. Similarly, if one slaughters a healthy animal and it doesn’t convulse, it’s still permitted. However, let’s discuss an animal so sick that it can’t support itself when others stand it up, even if it eats the same food as healthy animals. If that animal is slaughtered and doesn’t convulse at all, it’s a neveila and one would receive lashes for eating it; if it convulses, it’s permitted. The convulsions must be at the end of the slaughter; if they’re at the beginning, they’re insignificant.

Maachalos Assuros 4:14

Convulsions for small livestock and for both small and large wild animals means that it extended its front leg and brought it back, it extended its hind leg even if it didn’t bring it back, or it just bent its hind leg. This is considered a convulsion and the animal is permitted. However, if it extended its front leg without bringing it back, the animal is prohibited, as this is just the result the animal’s soul departing. When it comes to large livestock, if the animal extended either its front or hind leg without bending it, or if it bent its front or hind leg without extending it, it is considered a convulsion and the animal is permitted. However, if it didn’t extend or bend its front or hind leg at all, the animal is a neveila. As far as birds, even if it only fluttered its eye or swished its tail, it’s a convulsion.