Halal-centric cattle breeding: the missing link in halal meat supply chains

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a Halal-centric cattle-breeding framework that closes a missing link in Halal meat supply chains by systematically embedding Halal principles into breeding aspects and livestock management. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with Halal unit managers and supervisors from plantation-based livestock businesses. This study uses the Analytic Hierarchy Process, a quantitative decision-making tool, to prioritise and evaluate the key criteria for selecting cattle breeds suitable for Halal livestock management. Findings The findings of this study show that Halal compliance is the most critical criterion in cattle breed selection, followed by animal welfare and reproductive performance, with Brahman cattle identified as the best breed for Halal-oriented livestock management. The authors found that breeding decisions fundamentally strengthen Halal assurance and integrity of the Halal meat supply chain. Embedding Halal principles into cattle breeding is, therefore, essential to safeguard consumer trust, strengthen Halal governance and ensure the locally grown Halal livestock industry remains credible, ethical and globally competitive. Practical implications The results of this study indicate that embedding Halal principles at the breeding stage improves governance, fosters ethical livestock practices and secures long-term Halal readiness in plantation-based systems. Adopting these practices not only unlocks new green-revenue opportunities and boosts productivity but also strengthens the Halal reputation of plantation livestock enterprises and fulfils their social responsibilities. In addition, small-scale Halal producers require targeted guidance on Halal-compliant breeding. Originality/value This paper has proposed a Halal-centric cattle-breeding framework that accommodates the missing link in Halal meat supply chains. This paper advances the Halal supply-chain management literature by filling the current research gap on integrating Halal-compliant breeding. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first studies to examine Halal breeding in livestock operations within oil-palm plantations that use palm by-products as cattle feed.