Sheep Goat Livestock or Insect Livestock?

According to the United Nations, the global population is predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2050. The food sector is looking for a solution to the protein deficit due to per capita protein demand and population growth. Insects are a source of protein that is promoted in both feed and food. The nine billion people who are predicted to live on planet Earth in 2050, need an additional 250 million tons of protein per year, an increase of 50% compared to today. And according to the FAO, crickets need 6 times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and twice less than pigs and broilers to produce the same amount of protein. A number of insect breeding companies have sprung up, especially in Europe for the production of protein from these insects, and there has even been an organization specifically formed for this, namely IPIFF (International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed). About a third of the production of these insects is for food and two-thirds for protein sources of feed. Will we Muslims be raising insects instead of sheep for protein sources? As Muslims, we shouldn't have to eat crickets to get protein intake as is widely promoted in the west. The types of insects permitted to be bred by the European Commission for this purpose include only 7 species of insects, namely 3 types of crickets, 2 types of caterpillars and 2 types of flies. We choose halal Thaiban, namely mutton and lamb.

Consumption of goat-lamb meat per capita in Indonesia is still very low, which is less than 1 kg per year and this could be only during Eid al-Adha or Eid al-Qurban. Of course this is very concerning, so its consumption needs to be increased. Even though this lamb meat is the best meat and the Prophet Muhammad liked it. Protein is one of the important elements for human food and more specifically lamb and goat meat as a source of protein has its own advantages, for more details read here. In a hadith the Prophet Muhammad SAW also ordered his people to keep these sheep because of blessings. These goats and sheep are closely related to the Muslim worship practices, namely aqiqah and qurban which are part of Islamic law (shariah) until the Day of Judgment, so that raising sheep and goats also has many virtues.

"Take care (use) by you goats because in them are blessings." [HR Ahmad]

"No prophet was sent except that he shepherded the goats. The friends ask, are you too?". He replied, "Yes, I used to herd the goats of the residents of Mecca for a few qirath wages." [HR. Al Bukhari, no. 2262] 

Abu Hurairah r.a. said: "Once served to the Prophet Shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam a bowl of porridge and meat. So he took part of the arm (of the meat), and that part was most liked by the Prophet Muhammad Shallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam." (HR. Muslim)

Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu narrated, "The Prophet Shallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam was served meat. The leg (of that meat or thigh) was given to Him. The Prophet Shallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam liked it, so he took a bite of the meat." (HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

With the development of energy plantations or legume plantations, sheep and goat farming can be increasingly encouraged. The main problem in the form of feed availability and more specifically the source of feed protein becomes easy to overcome. Thus, large capacity farms are also very likely to be developed, because the demand for goat and sheep meat is also very large. In addition, Indonesia's palm oil plantation area which reaches 15 million hectares is also potential for livestock, especially sheep, for more details read here. From this it can be concluded that in anticipation of the population growth, Muslims should be serious about raising these goats - sheep.

Sheep-Palm Oil After Cow-Palm Oil

In 2050 the world's population is estimated to reach 9 billion people. The need for food, especially protein, will also definitely increase. With a human population of 9 billion, protein needs are estimated at 250 million tons per year or 50% more than today's protein production. Insects are strong candidates to achieve the target protein requirement, which can be applied to feed and food. Promotion of protein sources from insects is carried out by a number of countries in Europe. The advantage of insects as a source of protein is mainly because with a smaller amount of feed these insects can produce the same amount of protein as traditional farming. According to the FAO, insects such as crickets need six times less feed than cattle, four times less than sheep, and twice as little as pigs and broilers to produce the same amount of protein.

The types of insects permitted to be bred by the European Commission for this purpose include only 7 species of insects, namely 3 types of crickets, 2 types of caterpillars and 2 types of flies. A number of insect farming companies (insect producers) have also sprung up in Europe and it is estimated that two thirds of these insects are for animal feed and one third for food or human consumption. Protein is one of the important elements in human diet. Islam regulates this food issue, so that only halal food can be consumed by Muslims around the world. And it would be even better is a food group that is halal thayibban. Eating insects such as crickets should be avoided by Muslims and seek better food such as sheep, goats and cows.

In order to meet the protein needs, there are a number of ways that can be done to anticipate the increasing needs. Indonesia is the owner of the largest palm oil plantation in the world with an area of ​​more than 15 million hectares or more than one half of the island of Java and this has great potential if it can be exploited. The integration of cattle farming in palm oil plantations has been widely carried out and this can be optimized by integrating sheep-palm oil plantation also. In fact, the two activities can complement each other because the two activities are not carried out simultaneously in the same palm oil plantation. When palm oil plantations are replanted (plant rejuvenation), then at the age of palm oil trees less than 3.5 years, cows cannot be grazed on that land and the same land can be used for sheep grazing. The replanting (plant rejuvenation) of palm oil plantations is carried out in turns in the palm oil plantation area, so that livestock or sheep grazing also follows suit.

Lamb is halalan thayibban food even used in worship, namely for aqiqah and qurban. The production of sheep-based protein is certainly highly recommended so that in addition to meeting the protein needs in halalab thayibban food, is also to support the practice of worship. With the largest Muslim population in the world and vast oil palm plantation, running sheep farms as a source of protein would certainly be much better. With an area of ​​​​palm oil plantations reaching more than 15 million hectares, the potential for meat production from sheep is also huge.