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Rabat – Demand in Morocco for sacrificial animals for the approaching Eid Al Adha sacrifice feast is expected to reach 5.43 million. With a national stock landing at 9 million, it will be possible to meet the demand of citizens.
The supply of sheep and goat for slaughter for the Eid Al Adha 2017 amounted to nearly 5.43 million, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water, and Forests on Wednesday.
The national sheep and goat population reached 25.47 million heads in 2017, 19.87 million sheep and 5.6 million goats, and provides an animal slaughter supply of about 9 million heads including 5.14 million male sheep, 1.75 million ewe lambs, and 2.11 million goats, the ministry said in a statement to the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).
The national supply makes it possible to heavily cover the expected demand estimated at 5.43 million head, including 4.9 million sheep and 530,000 goats, the statement said.
For the health condition of the national herd, the ministry has ensured that sacrificial animals are in a good health state in all regions, owing to the various actions taken by the officials in the sector.
Health monitoring of livestock and vaccination campaigns carried out by the veterinary services of the National Office for the Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) and required health checkups by veterinarians against contagious animal diseases have verified that the animals are not infected.
The ministry said that the rise in supply is due to the favorable climatic conditions of the 2016-2017 crop year that resulted in improved livestock performance.
Sales of livestock on the occasion of Eid Al Adha will generate a significant income for small ruminant farmers and help boost economic activities in rural regions, said the ministry.
A close monitoring of the supply of the different markets will be carried out by the ministry in order to observe closely the prices of the animals at sale, in particular at supermarkets, rural souks, and the main points of sale in towns and cities.
