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Prices of sacrificial animals up by 30pc

AJMAN/SHARJAH — With just five days to go for Eid Al Adha, traders at the animal markets in Sharjah and Ajman have raised the prices of sacrificial animals by 20 to 30 per cent.

The main reason behind the hike is the ban on import of livestock and cattle from Somalia and Sudan.

But notwithstanding the hike in prices of these animals, people are flocking to the market as the rates are expected to shoot up further, a day or two before Eid.

Mohammed Al Khatim, a trader at the animal market in Al Jubail Area in Sharjah, said that only livestock from Australia and Iran are a little bit cheaper.

Sharaf Al Deen Abid, another trader from Al Jubail Live stock market said: ''I have been selling livestock for the past 10 years in this country, the people used to buy sacrificial animals even 15 days before Eid just to save money as they know the price would rise up during days close to Eid, but this year the sale is slow, and might pick up during the days close to Eid.''

Kahtim Al Jaffari from Ajman said that the price of a sheep or a goat imported from Iran, Australia and India had increased from Dh300 and Dh500 to Dh700 and upwards.

UAE nationals, Arabs and Africans prefer to buy animals from Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia although the price is high due to its limited quantity because of the ban, while Asians prefer to buy animals that are brought from India, Iran and Pakistan, which are being sold at good prices.

Mohammed Khalaf Al Nadeem, trader from Ajman said that some UAE nationals normally prefer to buy animals from India and Iran, while expatriates with low income go for animals which normally weigh between eight and 15kg and are priced at Dh250 to Dh350 a head.

Mohammed said that large number of people send money to their families back homes to select sacrificial animals on their behalf so as to avoid the hassle of going to the cattle market, buying the animals, and then taking them to the abattoir to be slaughtered.

This practice had affected the sale of the animals For Eid a great deal.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, an official at Sharjah Municipality said that the municipality has set up a cattle market price control committee to ensure normal rates during this high season and ensure healthy animal for the public.

The veterinary doctors from the municipality check the livestock at the sea ports and inspect them before letting them enter the market for sale. Besides, they also keep strict check on the health of the animal in the market.

Muhair Al Jarah, Head of the Helath Section of Ajman Municipality said that the municipal inspectors and supervisors will be working before and during the Eid in the animal markets as well as the abattoirs to ensure fixed prices and good health condition for the animals.

He said that the inspectors are also responsible to curb the slaughtering of animals in residential areas.

Butchers slaughtering animals at residences would also be fined and suspended from work.

Those who want to sacrifice animals should take them to the slaughterhouse to maintain cleanliness in the residential areas, he added.

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