YOGYAKARTA — As Eid al-Adha approaches, activities at Dompet Dhuafa Farm (DD Farm) are intensifying, including at DD Farm Pundong in Bantul, Yogyakarta, which serves as one of the suppliers of sacrificial animals for Dompet Dhuafa’s Animal Distribution Program. Before being distributed across the country, Dompet Dhuafa ensures that every sacrificial animal is male, healthy, and meets standard weight requirements through a rigorous Quality Control (QC) process. This process is key to ensuring the sheep are healthy, well-fed, and halal-compliant.
As a tangible proof and a new experience, Dompet Dhuafa invited dozens of content creators and bloggers to participate in an event titled “Heartventure Voluntrip Yogyakarta” on Saturday (May 17, 2025). They were taken directly to the DD Farm Pundong, Bantul, Yogyakarta, to witness and experience firsthand the QC process for sacrificial animals.
Participants not only watched, but also took part in various activities, such as shearing goats and sheep, weighing, checking health, and counting animals, all in the form of educational and fun games.
The QC process is conducted thoroughly. Health aspects that are checked include physical appearance such as intact body, no defects, no broken horns, and no wounds. DD Farm’s farm workers also ensure that the sheep are fat and healthy. The minimum weight of sheep that pass QC is 22 kilograms.
This year, 1,450 sheep have passed the QC process, as confirmed by Satiatji, Program Manager of DD Farm Yogyakarta.
“The QC process has been completed. Alhamdulillah, on Monday, we conducted weighing and health checks for the sacrificial sheep that will be slaughtered. Insha’Allah, 1,450 animals are ready and have passed QC for sacrifice at THK this year,” said the man known as Yayak.
In addition, Dompet Dhuafa also checks health indicators such as appetite, gait, and oral condition. If any issues are found, such as mucus or long nails, they are immediately cleaned. The sheep are also given vitamins and feed supplements like dried water spinach, cassava pongkol, and concentrate.
Kamsan, an ABK at DD Farm Pundong, stated that every animal entering the pen is immediately given vitamins, deworming medication, and antiparasitic treatment. If any diseases are detected, treatment is carried out by local veterinarians collaborating with DD Farm or internal veterinarians as consultants.
“The animals here, insha’Allah, meet farm standards. The Animal Health Center regularly inspects them, usually every few months. What’s important is that we monitor their feeding and drinking, clean their pens, and remove any leftover food or waste. We make sure they don’t eat anything unhealthy,” added Kamsan.
The enthusiasm of the Heartventure Voluntrip participants was evident from the moment they set foot at DD Farm Pundong. This activity was an eye-opening experience for Ziyan, one of the Heartventure participants, about the process of preparing quality sacrificial animals for Dompet Dhuafa.
“This is my first time playing with sheep and goats, guys!” said Ziyan in his typical content creator style.
Participants tried their hand at weighing livestock
From his direct experience in the field, Ziyan also gained new insights that managing a livestock farm is not limited to feeding and maintaining hygiene. There are two important processes in farm management, namely breeding and fattening. These two stages are key to ensuring that the growth and quality of each sheep can be monitored and controlled optimally until they are ready for sacrifice.
“Earlier, we also tried to lift one goat weighing around 30 kilograms, and we learned how to weigh it. Then, we all practiced weighing together to determine if the sheep had reached the required weight or not,” Ziyan shared during the quality control process.
Ziyan found this experience both exciting and enlightening.
The distribution of sacrificial animals by Dompet Dhuafa Yogyakarta covers various areas in DIY and its surrounding regions, particularly remote areas with relatively high poverty rates. Some of these include Kalibawang, Kulon Progo, Samigaluh, Selopamioro, Imogiri, and areas in Gunung Kidul such as Tepus and Girisubo. Dompet Dhuafa strives to ensure that every sacrificial animal provides tangible benefits to the communities in these areas.
“So, for those of you who don’t know, at DD Farm Pundong Yogyakarta, the quality of all the sheep and goats is strictly maintained to ensure they meet the required weight for sacrifice,” concluded Ziyan.
The THK Program is part of local economic empowerment. At DD Farm Pundong, eight local farmers have benefited from the program. With the theme “Kurban Saruh Itu,” Dompet Dhuafa aims to demonstrate that sacrificial offerings have a significant economic impact, particularly for local farmers. So, friends, let’s support them in continuing to empower themselves by making a sacrifice through digital.dompetdhuafa.org/kurban! (Dompet Dhuafa)
Text and photos: Anndini Dwi Putri
Editor: Dhika