Commentary for Avodah Zarah 31:4
עגלים וסייחים: תניא רבי יהודה מתיר בשבורה מפני שאינה יכולה להתרפאות ולחיות אמרו לו והלא מרביעין עליה ויולדת וכיון דמרביעין עליה ויולדת אתו לשהויה אמר להן לכשתלד אלמא לא מקבלת זכר:
Calves and foals. It has been taught: R. Judah permits [the sale of] a maimed one, since it cannot be cured or restored to health. They said to him: But won’t they breed her and she will give birth, and since they breed her, she will be kept? He replied: Wait till she gives birth. This is to say, an animal [in such a state] will not let the male get near her.
Daf Shevui to Avodah Zarah
Judah allows Jews to sell maimed animals to non-Jews because they cannot be cured. They will not be able to use them as work animals. The non-Jew will assumedly slaughter them immediately and it is not prohibited to sell animals used for food to non-Jews. The other sages point out that these animals can give birth. Thus a non-Jew may come to hold on to them. Another Jew would then see the non-Jew in possession of the animal and come to believe that it is permitted to sell animals to non-Jews.
Judah responds that maimed female animals cannot be bred. The non-Jew will see this very quickly and will not hold on to the animal for long.
Judah responds that maimed female animals cannot be bred. The non-Jew will see this very quickly and will not hold on to the animal for long.
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