After conducting inquiries to the best of our ability we
hereby publicize the opinion of Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv shlita and HaGaon Hagodol Hagavad of
Ramat Aharon R' Nissim Karelitz shlita.
Maran the Chazon Ish had issued a decisive ruling regarding a
breed of cattle called zebu. As clarified in the Shach
(Yoreh Deah 80, 11) the custom is not to eat those types
of cattle for which no tradition has been handed down (see
Chochmas Odom), and therefore he firmly opposed
bringing this breed to Eretz Yisroel.
Now it has been shown that some of the meat imported from
South America is from cattle of this breed or from cows that
were crossbred with this breed (although no difference is now
apparent) which does not conform to the tradition.
Therefore those involved in the matter should make certain to
shecht cattle that do not raise any concerns.
Regarding those that have already been shechted,
experts have ascertained that in Argentina and Uruguay the
majority (rove) of the cattle do not show any change
and most of them (rove) do not have any concerns of
crossbreeding, therefore the meat shechted there is
permitted for consumption lechatchiloh.
Signed,
Yitzchok Mordechai HaKohen Rubin, Har Nof
Dovid Aryeh Morgenstern
Moshe Mordechai Karp
