We're do just fine with brutally treating farm animals without bringing Halaal into it.

If you know of cases of animal cruelty, you have two choices, whine on Reddit or report it

Or does Halaal play a specific role in this instance?

Yes. According to SAn law, animals must be stunned before slaughter. This goes against Halal standards

Allowing any commercial operation to claim 'ritual slaughter' ad lib would completely negate these laws

Stunning of Animals Subject to sub-section 8.5 below, no person shall slaughter any animal at the Abattoir unless it has first been stunned in accordance with the Regulations. All sheep, lambs, goats and pigs shall be stunned according to the electrical method. All other animals shall be stunned according to the captive bolt method. The Council may in its discretion change, from time to time, the method of stunning to be used to that of another prescribed method. In the case of ritual slaughter as provided for in the Regulations, the requirement of the stunning of the animals prior to slaughter shall not apply, but all unnecessary cruelty shall be avoided.