Morocco Has 8 to 9 Million Livestock Heads Designated for Eid Al Adha

Last year, Morocco canceled Eid Al Adha rites to protect the livestock population and to tackle drought.

Rabat – Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced that the country has between height and nine billion heads of livestock, including sheep and goats, designated for Eid Al Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice.

The number exceeds the national demand, which is estimated between six and seven million heads, the Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement.

The ministry said preparations for Eid Al Adha are progressing under good conditions, citing an action plan implemented over several months in coordination with various stakeholders.

The ministry’s approach encompasses the entire livestock value chain, including temporary markets, the registration of breeding units, and veterinary monitoring to ensure health by veterinary services.

Eid Al Adha is expected to fall on May 27 or May 28. The religious holiday falls on the 10th day of Dhu Al Hijjah, the 12th and final month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid Al Adha is one of the two major festivals in Islam. It commemorates Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and his willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.

Last year, Morocco cancelled the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual to protect the livestock population due to drought.

The 2025-2026 agricultural season, however, contributed to the sector’s resilience, especially due to heavy rainfall that ended seven consecutive years of drought.

The ministry recalled Morocco’s royal program for rebuilding the national herd, aligned with the improved rainfall, which helped restore balance to the national livestock.

The number of Morocco’s livestock population is estimated at 40 million heads.

At the national level, 160,000 breeding and fattening units for sheep and goats have registered within the animal traceability system established for Eid Al Adha.

Morocco’s food safety authority, ONSSA, carried out more than 3,275 inspection operations covering 418 livestock sales points as of May 12.

Inspections led to the seizure and destruction of more than 10 violations related to the possession of unlicensed veterinary drugs.