Charles Ellicott Commentary Joel 1:18

"How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate." — Joel 1:18 (ASV)

How do the beasts groan.— All creation is represented as sharing in the dread perplexity; the beasts are involved in it, just as in Nineveh the animals were united in the proclamation of the general fast by the king’s decree, when he had heard of the preaching of Jonah.