Livestock prices increase in country
FEWER PAKISTANI GOATS AND AIR TRANSPORT COSTS TO BLAME FOR HIGHER PRICES THIS EID, VENDORS SAY
Prices of sacrificial animals were high at Dubai’s main cattle market on Friday, just days ahead of Eid Al Adha, which starts on Tuesday in the UAE.
Prices of goats, which most people prefer as a sacrifice for Eid Al Adha, ranged from roughly Dh1,500 per goat to Dh5,000 — around 65 per cent higher than last Eid Al Adha in August 2017.
On Friday evening, livestock sellers at the cattle market in Al Ghusais said prices were high partly because of a low import of Pakistani goats. Indian goats, meanwhile, were mostly coming in by air, which is more expensive than sea transport.
Livestock prices are dictated by supply and demand, the animal’s weight, health, variety, the country from which they originate — and haggling skills.
Ghulam Akbar, a Pakistani livestock seller at the market, said: “So far, there are only around 500 Pakistani goats here. Pakistan is trying to meet its domestic demand and the goats exported from there are fewer than last year. This has pushed up prices.”
Akbar, whose goat shed is opposite Shabab Palestine Cafeteria, added: “If there were smaller, cheaper Somali goats — Dh400 or Dh500 per head — it would be a relief for customers. But Somali goats have not come in for a few years now.”
According to sellers, there are smaller goats for around Dh500 per head but they are not suitable for sacrifice because they are too young. Also cheaper are suitable Indian sheep, going for around Dh1,000 per head for a 10-12kg sheep. Bigger 35kg Syrian sheep were quoted at around Dh2,000.
Mohammad Asif, another Pakistani seller, who is stationed at shed 7, said it costs around Dh500 to import one goat by air. “We have to add that to our cost and then add our profit, so it ends up being more expensive for the customer,” Asif said.
“Last year, many livestock were coming by sea, but lately many are coming by air. We still have some days left for Eid and the situation could change — up or down.”
During last year’s Eid Al Adha, Dubai markets received 170,000 animals. This number was expected to increase by 60 per cent this year to 300,000, officials had said a week ago.
In peak summer, livestock are not usually transported by sea due to the long journey and the chances of them falling sick or dying on the way, sellers said.
On Friday, livestock shopper Mohammad Rafi, from India, said the prices were too high. “An Indian goat weighing around 25kg is going for almost Dh3,000 — the rate was around Dh1,500 last Eid Al Adha. I want to buy four goats but Dh10,000 or Dh12,000 is too much.”
Meanwhile, prices of cows are around the same as last year, sellers and customers said. Cows that are two to three years old cost between Dh7,500 and Dh9,000, approximately.