• Shechting an עובר while it is in the mother’s womb

Rav Hoshaya inquired: הושיט את ידו למעי בהמה – if one inserted his hand into an animal’s womb, ושחט בן ט' חי – and shechted a nine-month live fetus, and the fetus was removed while the mother was alive, is the shechitah valid? This question can be asked according to both opinions (below) regarding whether a בן פקועה (a live fetus removed from a shechted mother) requires its own shechitah: Although Rebbe Meir says in the next Mishnah that a בן פקועה requires its own shechitah (and shechting it is effective), that may be only היכא דיצא לאויר העולם – where [the fetus] eventually emerged to the open air and became an independent entity, אבל במעי אמו – but while it is still in its mother’s womb, shechting the fetus may not permit it. On the other hand, although the Rabbonon say that a בן פקועה normally does not require its own shechitah (and shechting it is ineffective), perhaps ד' סימנין אכשר ביה רחמנא – Hashem validated four pipes for [shechting a בן פקועה], i.e., that Hashem allowed permitting a בן פקועה by shechting either its mother’s סימנים or its own סימנים.

• Machlokes about "בן פקועה": whether the mother’s shechitah permits its fetus

The next Mishnah states that if one shechts a pregnant animal and finds in it an eight-month fetus (which is nonviable), or a dead nine-month fetus, קורעו – all Tannaim agree he may tear [the fetus] and eat it without shechitah (however, he must remove its blood). If there was a nine-month live fetus in it, Rebbe Meir says it requires shechitah, and is subject to the prohibition of "אותו ואת בנו" – shechting it and its offspring on the same day. The Chochomim say: שחיטת אמו מטהרתו – its mother’s shechitah purifies it for consumption, and it does not require its own shechitah. Rebbe Shimon Shezuri says that even if this fetus was four or five years old and plowing in the field, it may be eaten without shechitah (his opinion will be explained on the next Daf). The Gemara adds that these Tannaim also disagree whether one may consume the גיד הנשה and חלב of the fetus whose mother was shechted. However, all agree regarding רובעו – having relations with it, וחורש בו – and plowing with it with another species, it is considered a normal animal and forbidden.

• Can one redeem a firstborn donkey with a בן פקועה?

The Gemara asks: מהו לפדות בבן פקועה – can one redeem a firstborn donkey with a בן פקועה? The Gemara clarifies that according to Rebbe Meir, that a בן פקועה requires shechitah, שה מעליא הוא – it is a-fledged [lamb or kid], and certainly may be used to redeem a פטר חמור. The question is relevant according to the Rabbonon, who hold its mother’s shechitah permits its consumption without its own shechitah. Do we say כבשרא בדיקולא הוא – it is like meat in a pot, and may not be used for redeeming a פטר חמור? Or do we say כיון דרהיט ואזיל ורהיט ואתי – since it runs back and forth, שה קרינא ביה – we call it a "שה", and it may be used for פדיון? Mar Zutra says one may not redeem with it, and Rav Ashi says פודין. Rav Ashi asked Mar Zutra that if his reason for disqualifying it was based on a gezeirah shavah ("שה שה") from korban pesach, then he should likewise require an unblemished male within its first year!? Mar Zutra replied that the repetitive "תפדה תפדה" – redeem, redeem validates any שה for redemption. Still, a בן פקועה is excluded by the above גזירה שוה from korban pesach.