Malaysian state wants Koranic recitals for cows

Cows in a conservative Malaysian state could be played Koranic recitals in the hope it will help them relax and improve the quality of their beef, a senior official said today.

Che Abdullah Mat Nawi, a member of the executive council in Kelantan state, put the idea forward in the hope that it will be taken up by cattle farmers in the rural state.

The influential Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) is in charge of the state legislature in Kelantan, in the north of the Muslim-majority country, and has previously attracted controversy for promoting tough Islamic laws.

"We believe that (reading the Koran gives) peace of mind to people, so it might give peace of mind to animals and produce better meat," said Che Abdullah, who oversees the agriculture portfolio in the local government.

"We believe the quality of the beef will get better if the animal is calm or in a relaxed situation."