Sacrificial Cows' Rampage Caused by Crowd Stress, Says Butcher

Cattle rampaging is a recurring phenomenon during Eid al-Adha celebrations, according to butchers who cite various factors such as crowd noise and handling methods before slaughter.

Ridwan Kurniawan (43), a livestock worker, stated that crowds during the slaughter process can panic cattle. He explained that cattle are usually kept in pens away from bustling areas before being moved to the slaughter site, making the commotion stressful.

At Masjid Agung Al-Azhar, the slaughter area is enclosed by low barriers to prevent spectators from getting too close.

Irham Gufroni (25), a butcher at Masjid Pondok Indah, echoed similar sentiments. He said butchers must be able to communicate and understand the temperament of the cattle being slaughtered. He added that butchers need strategies to handle rampaging cattle to avoid improper actions.

“It’s all about stress management, or what some call chemistry,” Irham said in a separate interview. “If the butcher’s chemistry with the animal isn’t right, it can go berserk and other things happen.”

According to the Tasikmalaya-born butcher, cattle are highly sensitive to the emotional states of humans around them. “You can even talk to them,” he added. “Cattle are living beings, just in a different dimension to us, but they can sense things. If we act aggressively, they will respond in kind.”