From Prison to Cattle Pens: Former Inmates Granted a 'Second Chance' at Livestock Farm

A series of cattle pens in Sumberjaya Village, South Tambun, Bekasi Regency, appear busy ahead of Eid al-Adha 2026. Amidst the scent of fodder and the sounds of thousands of sacrificial cattle, dozens of men can be seen cleaning pens, transporting feed, and bathing livestock since early morning.

Few realise that some of the workers at this farm are former inmates who previously struggled to be accepted back into their local communities. “On average, they were rejected and not accepted by their original families. I told them, ‘Come, I will take you in; let us work hard here. You still have hope for a life’,” said Saiful when interviewed on Monday (18/5/2026).

For Saiful, former inmates are not people to be shunned. According to him, they simply need an opportunity to rise and return to living a decent life. Every day, these workers assist in managing thousands of sacrificial cattle at Saiful’s farm. Their duties range from foraging for grass until late at night to cleaning the pens and ensuring the livestock remains healthy.

“We employ them to care for the animals and forage for grass. There are a total of 37 workers assisting at the farm,” Saiful stated. His decision to employ former prisoners stems from his concern regarding the difficulties many face in finding employment after release. He believes this lack of income and a fresh start often leads them back to a life of crime.

Saiful’s farm was established in 2008. Initially, he only raised ducks and goats before eventually expanding into cattle fattening. Currently, his farm is capable of housing up to 3,500 cattle. Ahead of this year’s Eid al-Adha, thousands of Bali cattle in his pens have already been sold out. “Alhamdulillah, the Bali cattle are sold out; 2,901 head have been sold this year,” said Saiful. Despite his business growing significantly and expected to generate billions of rupiah in turnover each Eid al-Adha season, Saiful maintains that his enterprise is not solely profit-oriented.