Islam Obliges Farmers to Uphold Animal Welfare

 

In general, there are similarities between how Islam regulates proper conduct toward animals and livestock and the concept of animal welfare that has developed globally over time.

Raising livestock is no trivial task. One *hadith* recounts how rainfall occurs because of animals. In a *hadith* narrated by Ibn Majah, the Messenger said: "When people refuse to pay *zakat* (alms), rainwater is withheld from the sky. Were it not for the livestock, rain would never fall."

Then, there is a *hadith* narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): "It is not permissible for a man who has purchased a pregnant goat or camel to accompany me [to battle] until he awaits the birth of its offspring." Such is the profound regard for livestock etiquette. So, folks, even a pregnant goat can delay someone from becoming a *mujahid* (warrior for the faith). Remarkable!

Animal husbandry is one of the earliest forms of worship in the world. One of the first lessons on worship that Prophet Adam taught his children involved offering a sacrifice. To do so, he had to strive to provide the best possible offering. Cain (Qabil) chose to work as a farmer, while Abel (Habil) became a livestock herder. Ultimately, because Abel’s offering was deemed superior, it was accepted, and he was united in marriage with Iqlima—the woman they had both sought to marry. Abel’s offering was accepted because he presented the fattest, finest, and strongest sheep; the same could not be said for Cain.

Thus, paying attention to animal welfare is of great importance. In the academic world, among experts and conscientious individuals, the concepts and movements known as "Good Animal Practice" or "Animal Welfare" have emerged. There are three crucial aspects of animal welfare: welfare science, ethics, and law. Welfare science measures the effects on animals in various situations and environments from the animals' own perspective. Welfare ethics addresses how humans *ought* to treat animals, whereas welfare law concerns how humans *must* treat animals. Animal welfare is an effort to provide suitable environmental conditions for animals, thereby improving their psychological and physiological states. It reflects a human commitment to enhancing the quality of life for animals that have historically been confined in cages or tethered, unable to move freely. Animal welfare refers to the well-being of animals. Respect for animal welfare is often based on the belief that non-human animals are sentient and that consideration should be given to their well-being or suffering, especially when they are under human care. This concept emerged from the concept of animal rights—the fundamental rights of animals to a decent life free from human interference. Animals have the right to protection and humane treatment by humans regarding their care, housing, transport, utilization, slaughter methods, and euthanasia. This aligns with Islamic guidelines; a Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (RA) states that the Prophet (PBUH) forbade the confinement of livestock (without a reason justified by religion).

The world's first animal welfare organization, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), was established 200 years ago, in 1824. In 1840, Queen Victoria granted her royal patronage, transforming the SPCA into the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Various animal welfare organizations have campaigned for the adoption of a Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare (UDAW) at the United Nations. In principle, this Universal Declaration aims to raise global awareness that animals, as living beings, also experience pain and suffering. Fundamentally, animal welfare is recognized as a crucial issue within the context of social development for nations worldwide. “Treating animals humanely is a reflection of a civilized society!”

One of the animal welfare concepts widely adopted by animal lovers is that of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA). The WSPA’s animal welfare framework is known as the “Five Freedoms”: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from heat and discomfort; freedom from injury and disease; freedom from fear and distress; and freedom to express normal, natural behavior.

The Indonesian government has actually made significant progress in this area. Law No. 6 of 1967 concerning Basic Provisions on Animal Husbandry and Animal Health addresses animal welfare in Article 22; this covers housing and enclosures, rearing and care, transportation, usage and utilization, methods of slaughter and killing, as well as humane treatment and protection by humans.

Subsequently, Law No. 18 of 2009 concerning Animal Husbandry and Animal Health was enacted. Article 1 defines animal welfare as "all matters relating to the physical and mental state of animals—measured against natural behavioral standards—that must be implemented and enforced to protect animals from improper treatment by humans utilizing them."

Article 66 outlines measures to be taken for the sake of animal welfare, covering capture and handling; housing and enclosures; rearing and care; transportation; slaughter and killing; and humane treatment and protection. Specific provisions include humane practices—such as capturing and handling wildlife in accordance with conservation laws—and ensuring housing and enclosures allow animals to express their natural behaviors. Furthermore, rearing, safeguarding, care, and protection must be carried out to ensure animals are free from hunger and thirst, pain, abuse and misuse, as well as fear and distress.

Animal transportation must be conducted properly to ensure animals remain free from fear, distress, and abuse. Similarly, slaughter and killing must be performed in a manner that ensures animals are free from pain, fear, distress, abuse, and misuse. Article 302 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) prescribes a prison sentence for anyone who, without a legitimate reason or by exceeding reasonable limits, intentionally harms or injures an animal or impairs its health—including by deliberately withholding food.

An "Animal Needs Index" (ANI) has even been developed; this method was devised by Austrian scientists in 1999. Key elements of the ANI include freedom of movement, social contact, flooring quality, housing quality, and the quality of human care provided to the animals.

The "battery cage" model is rejected because it is inhumane. Battery cages are small enclosures that prevent livestock from moving; the animals remain huddled in place all day, with the aim of converting all their feed into meat. This clearly contradicts animal welfare principles. The proper approach is free-range farming, which provides access to the outdoors—mimicking the natural living conditions animals experienced before human intervention.

Animal emotions have long been a subject of expert study. Professors Ian Duncan and Marian Dawkins have focused particularly on the animals' feelings. This approach reflects the conviction that animals should be regarded as sentient beings. Duncan wrote: "Animal welfare is concerned with the feelings experienced by the animal. Animals have their own subjective feelings."

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) is an intergovernmental body responsible for improving animal health worldwide. The OIE promotes animal welfare and the safety of animal-derived food products. Animal welfare refers to how an animal copes with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is considered to be in a state of good welfare if—as demonstrated by scientific evidence—it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviors, and free from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress.

These five freedoms are interconnected; if one is not met or is compromised, it affects the others. This leads to mental suffering and pain, impacting the animal's physical and psychological condition.

The final factor is freedom from fear and distress, which entails providing conditions and treatment that prevent mental suffering. Prolonged poor welfare conditions trigger disease—a tangible manifestation of compromised animal welfare—resulting in chronic suffering for the animal.

Physiologically, changes in animal welfare activate the central nervous system (CNS) and elicit responses from both the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. Autonomic nervous system responses affect the Sympathetic-Adrenal-Medullary (SAM) system and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). SAM system activation leads to increased cardiac output (tachycardia, cardiac muscle contraction), increased blood flow to muscles (peripheral vasoconstriction, splenic contraction), and increased respiratory activity (increased respiratory rate, bronchiolar relaxation). Conversely, the PNS response results in decreased cardiac output (bradycardia).

In general, changes in animal welfare status lead to stress, manifesting as increased adrenocortical activity, reduced reproductive hormonal activity, decreased performance, chronic hypertension, increased disease susceptibility, gastric ulcers, delayed wound healing, cardiovascular pathologies, immunosuppression, and even death.

Neglecting the welfare of livestock and animals destined for slaughter causes fear, distress, and pain. Such conditions can arise during slaughter, transport, and marketing due to limitations in forming social groups and inadequate feed and water supplies. Pre-slaughter stress negatively impacts carcass quality, resulting in the condition known as Dark, Firm, and Dry (DFD) meat. Dark, Firm, and Dry (DFD) meat occurs as a result of pre-slaughter stress, which depletes muscle glycogen reserves. This condition leads to reduced lactic acid levels in the muscles and raises the meat's pH above normal levels. Under these conditions, the post-mortem process is compromised, resulting in meat that appears darker, firmer, and drier; generally, such meat is tougher and less palatable. High meat pH makes the meat more susceptible to bacterial growth. DFD beef serves as an indicator of stress, injury, disease, or fatigue in the animal prior to slaughter.

Good Animal Practice (GAP)

Livestock production must prioritize animal well-being—ensuring freedom from hunger, poor housing conditions, pain, disease, and handling-related stress. Practices include avoiding mutilation and invasive procedures, minimizing the use of antibiotics and hormones, and reducing livestock transport, among others. Livestock must be respected and treated with kindness, courtesy, and dignity.

GAP addresses public health by ensuring quality—including through the use of medicinal plants. European supermarkets, for instance, implement standards developed by bodies that establish codes of practice. These standards respond to consumer demands regarding agricultural production methods and their impact on health and the environment. Codes of practice cover food quality (ensuring health safety at every stage), social impact (requiring positive outcomes for smallholder farmers and decent working conditions), and environmental friendliness (producing food through sustainable farming systems that do not harm the environment).

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