Make a beeline to farms!

Manama

While some pilgrims climbed the Mountain of Arafat in Mecca yesterday, millions of Muslims who could not make the Holy trip will sacrifice an animal today.

With the high demand on cattle, livestock business has been booming at local farms and stockyards.

DT News visited the livestock barns at Hamala yesterday, where an unusually thick crowd was witnessed. Muslims of different nationalities visited the stockyard to purchase animals to slaughter it today.

There were big smiles on the traders’ faces, as their business flourished after months of stagnation due to lack of demand and supply.

At the yard, Mohammed Ahmed, who has been a breeder since he turned 12, told DT News that Eid Al Adha was a good opportunity to sell some of his animals and generate an additional income. Ahmed sold goats for BD150-BD250 and Arabian sheep for BD120-BD150.

Another breeder at the yard, Sayed Alawi Sayed Habeeb, said, “This year the demand is higher for Arabian sheep (Nuaimi), though many varieties of animals are available in the market, including Pakistani, Somalian Iranian and Sudanese
sheep.”

He commented that people with low income demanded Somalian sheep as it was more affordable, and cost only about BD60-BD70.

Professional trader Ali Al Kaas, who owns a barn of around 500 cattle heads, explained the fact that Somalian sheep’s bodies contained less fat and more meat also make them high on demand.

Al Kaas sold Arabian sheep for BD135 and the Iranian for BD110. He also sold buffalos for BD350-BD600 a head, depending on the age and weight of the animal.

He commended the huge efforts paid by the authorities in providing sufficient livestock in the market this year.

Business also boomed at the nearby Hamala Stockade Slaughterhouse, which is the first slaughter house to be granted a commercial record in the Kingdom.

The owner of the slaughter house, Abdulrahman Al Mottawa, informed that more than 600 cattle heads are expected to be slaughtered at the facility during the three days of Eid.

“We have been supported by the authorities because of the facilities we provide at our slaughterhouse. Customers can choose the animal they desire and get it slaughtered and chopped in a short time,” Al Mottawa said, adding that the place maintains high standards of hygiene and the animals are periodically examined.