Catholic butcher swears by halal meat

A Catholic butcher from Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory, says specialising in halal meat has kept him in business.

Halal meat is produced when an animal is slaughtered according to Islamic law, where the creature's throat is cut and the blood drains away.

The butcher, Matthew, says he's flat out this week, as the Muslim community prepares for the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

"Friends who are Muslim asked me to do it because there was nobody in Canberra doing halal and I thought, 'why not?' That was back in 1995," he said.

"Best thing I ever did.

"I probably would've struggled a lot more. It was just something niche I got into.

"People said I was crazy - other butcher owners - but I'm still here."

Source: ABC News, 9 July 2013