Daf Yomi - Beitza 40 - CHANGE OF HEART

The Gemora stated that public animals are those that go out during the Pesach season, graze in the meadow and return by the first rain of the season. These are considered muktza and cannot be slaughtered on Yom Tov.

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach comments that it seems from the Gemora that if these animals would return to the city by themselves before Yom Tov and the owner would decide on Yom Tov to slaughter them, they would nonetheless be regarded as muktza since the owner was particular in deciding that he will bring them back after Yom Tov.

An analogy can be made to utensils that are designated for Pesach use; they are considered muktza on Shabbos even if the owner would decide to use them for chametz during the year.

Rav Shlomo Zalman articulates a distinction between the two cases. The utensils are just as fitting to be used now as they would be on Pesach and perhaps they are not considered muktza. However, an animal when it’s alive is not in actuality a food item. It is regarded as a food item because there is a possibility of slaughtering it which enables it to be eaten. An undomesticated animal while it is grazing outside the city cannot be designated as a food item since in its present state, it is forbidden to slaughter it. This explains why he cannot decide on Yom Tov that he wants to slaughter this animal.