23. Hefsek after the bracha. There is a machlokes how many post-shechita inspections (16) one must do when shechting multiple animals. Some say one should not do 12 inspections, as there should not be such a long hefsek between the bracha and the second shechita (שחיטות ישנים הובא בדרכ"מ סק"ד ). However, many Acharonim hold one must do 12 inspections [or at least the 6 with the nail (see 22 above)] even after the shechita (מהרי"ל הובא בדרכ"מ ). It is not a hefsek after the bracha since it is done for the purpose of shechita (ש"ך סקט"ז, פר"ח סקט"ז, שמלה חדשה ס"י, תבו"ש סק"כ, פמ"ג סקכ"ד ).
24. When there is no hefsek. It should be noted that in modern shechita houses, the shochet makes a bracha before the first shechita and continues shechting for hours from this bracha, and he talks during his break. Also, sometimes there is someone other than the shochet appointed to check the knives. In these cases, where there is no issue of hefsek after the bracha, they should technically be careful about 12 inspections after the shechita too. Some Acharonim write that this should be done l’chatchila if there are not time constraints (שו"ע הרב קו"א אות ה', דעת קדושים סקט"ו, בית לחם יהודה סקי"ג ).
25. Nevertheless, some Acharonim hold one may be meikel to do only two of the 12 inspections [back and forth over the sharp edge] after shechita (כנה"ג ב הג' הטור סקט"ו, שו"ע הרב ). This is because the knife has the status of being checked, as it was checked before the shechita, and as long as it did not touch the back of the neck and nothing happened that would raise any questions, a minimal inspection is enough to maintain its status. If something did happen, it requires 12 inspections.
