4,048. Animals to Which Sanctity Has Been Transferred

Hilchos Issurei Mizbeiach 1:9

This laws against blemishing sacrificial animals applies equally to those animals and to animals to which those animals’ sanctity has been transferred except for firstborn animals and animal tithes. In those cases, if someone blemishes an animal to which their sanctity has been transferred, he is not subject to lashes. This is because those are not suitable for use as offerings, as will be discussed IY”H when we get to Hilchos Temurah. Similarly, if someone blemishes a ninth animal that was accidentally called the tenth (when counting for animal tithes), he is not subject to lashes.

Hilchos Issurei Mizbeiach 1:10

While someone who consecrates a blemished animal for use as an offering is subject to lashes, the animal is nevertheless sanctified and it must be redeemed after being appraised by a kohein. After redemption, the animal reverts to secular status and the redemption money is used to buy a replacement animal for an offering. This is also the case when a consecrated animal is accidentally blemished. There is a Torah obligation to redeem sacrificial animals that became blemished and return them to secular status so that they may be eaten, as per Deuteronomy 12:15: “Only, when your heart desires, you may slaughter (animals) and eat meat.” Our oral tradition teaches that this refers to consecrated animals that require redemption. We learned in Hilchos Arachin Vacharamin that Leviticus 27:11 – “If it’s an unclean animal from which an offering may not be brought to Hashem, you shall stand the animal (for appraisal)...” – refers to blemished animals that have been redeemed.