A beast that died (on yom tov) may not be moved from its place. [A beast of kodshim (dedicated to the Temple) is referred to, as indicated by "and about challah that became unclean" (below). Benefit may not be derived from a beast of kodshim that died, and it must be buried, for which reason it may not be moved from its spot (on yom tov). But a beast of chullin (non-dedicated) may be cut up for the dogs. And this, when it was seen to be dying the day before, so that one's mind was on it. But if not, a beast of chullin, too, may not be moved from its spot.] And once they asked R. Tarfon about this and about challah that became unclean, and he went into the house of study and asked. And they said to him: They may not be moved from their place. [Challah that became unclean is not fit for a Cohein on yom tov, neither for kindling nor for feeding to his dog. For kodshim may not be destroyed on yom tov, even by feeing to a beast, it being a Scriptural decree that kodshim which became unclean may not be removed from the world on yom tov.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
בהמה שמתה – we are speaking of the Holy Animals [for use in the Temple], as it is taught regarding it and on the Hallah that was defiled. For the Holy Animals that died it is forbidden to derive benefit from it and it requires burial, therefore, one should not move it from its place. But a secular/non-holy animal, we cut it up before the dogs. And these words [apply] when it was in danger from yesterday, when his mind was upon it, but if it was not endangered from yesterday, even a non-holy/secular animal, he should not move it from its place.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
Introduction
This mishnah deals with what may be done with a beast (a cow, sheep, goat or bull) that has died on Yom Tov.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Beitzah
החלה שנטמאת – which is not appropriate for the Kohen on the Festival day, even to burn it or to give it to his dog, we don’t remove out of existence holy things form the world on Yom Tov, and even through animals eating it, as it is the decree of a Biblical verse that we do not remove ritually impure Holy Things from the world on Yom Tov.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
If a beast died [on Yom Tov] it may not be moved from its place. Since the beast died and was not slaughtered, it cannot be eaten. Since it cannot be eaten there is nothing that one may do with it on Yom Tov. Hence, it is muktzeh. All that he can do is leave it in its place and then when Yom Tov is over he can cut it up, use its hide and feed dogs with its meat.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Beitzah
And it happened that they once asked Rabbi Tarfon concerning this and concerning hallah that had become defiled. He went into the bet midrash and inquired, and they answered him: they may not be moved from their place. The mishnah now relates that this halakhah was asked of Rabbi Tarfon and he didn’t know the answer until he went and asked the question in the study house, the bet midrash. He also was asked about hallah, the part of the dough that is given to the priest, that had become impure on Yom Tov. Impure hallah, like an animal that died without being slaughtered, cannot be eaten and hence it is also muktzeh on Yom Tov. The answer therefore to both questions was that both are muktzeh and that neither can be moved until Yom Tov is over.
