MUI: Animals Exposed To FMD In Heavy Category Are Not Legal For Eid Al-Adha Sacrifice

Illustration of anticipating the spread of mouth and nail disease (FMD) in cattle. (Between)

JAKARTA - Head of the Fatwa Division of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Asrorun Niam Sholeh revealed that animals exposed to mouth and nail disease (FMD) with severe legal categories are not legal to be slaughtered in Eid al-Adha sacrifices.

"Animals affected by FMD with severe clinical symptoms, such as blisters on the nails that fall off and/or cause a limp or can't walk and cause them to be very thin, are not legal as sacrificial animals," said Asrorun in an online press conference attended from Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, May 31.

The provisions for slaughtering sacrificial animals affected by PMK are contained in the MUI Fatwa Number 32/2022. The letter also stipulates provisions for sacrificial animals exposed to PMK which are detailed according to the factual conditions of the animal.

"Animals affected by FMD with mild clinical symptoms, such as mild blisters on the nail gap, lethargic condition, no appetite and drooling more than usual, are legal as sacrificial animals," he said.

Meanwhile, if the animal is affected by FMD with clinical symptoms in the severe category and recovers from FMD, within the time allowed for sacrifice (the 10th to the 13th of Dzulhijah), the livestock is valid as a sacrificial animal.

According to him, one of the things that can cause the invalidity of animals to be sacrificed is defects, such as having their ears cut off.

To prevent FMD, it is necessary to vaccinate and sign that the animal has been injected with the vaccine, usually by placing an ear tag in the ear by means of a hole. This condition does not preclude the validity of the sacrificial animal.

"The hole in the animal's ear with eartag or stamping on its body as a sign that the animal has been vaccinated or as its identity, does not hinder the validity of the sacrificial animal," he said.