Anticipating Barking Cattle Ahead of Eid-ul-Adha, IPB University Animal Health Expert Reminds Us of Its Characteristics

The health of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Adha is an issue that needs to be considered, one of which is the practice of barking cattle – cattle that are deliberately overfed to increase their body weight before being sold. This practice not only harms consumers, but also endangers the health of the animals themselves.

Dr drh Denny Widaya Lukman, IPB University lecturer from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science (SKHB), said that the practice of gelonggongan is very torturous for animals and contradicts the principles of animal welfare and Islamic slaughter laws.

“This method is very torturous for the cattle before slaughter. It does not reflect the principle of ihsan towards animals and does not meet the rules of animal welfare,” said Dr Denny, Monday (5/26).

According to him, the practice of gelonggongan has been going on since the early 2000s. Barked cattle are usually force-fed water through the mouth using a hose 1-2 hours before being slaughtered.

He revealed that the characteristics of cattle that have been barked include an enlarged stomach and the animal looks weak, even unable to stand up. 

The weight of barked beef can also increase by 20-40 percent. “If 1 kg of meat is barked, then when the water comes out, the net weight is only around 600-800 grams,” he explained.

In general, the meat of loose animals usually looks wet on the surface and if hung, it can drip a little water, although it is difficult to recognize with the naked eye. Especially if the meat is already in frozen form.

For frozen meat, he advises people to choose meat in labeled packages to ensure quality. “Frozen meat cannot be distinguished from normal meat. So you should choose frozen meat that has been packaged and labeled,” he concluded. (IAAS/RWA)