The sheep market has seen an increase in prices with Eid Al-Adha holidays around the corner, Al-Riyadh daily reported. Many citizens have expressed their dismay at the high prices which tend to increase around this time of the year, describing livestock traders as greedy.
Traders said the prices have increased because the fodder prices too have increased. Most members of the public do not know that the fodder prices have been on the rise over the past few years.
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Riyadh sheep market usually sees an influx of people on the eighth and ninth days of Dul Hija, right before Eid Al-Adha. Most people love to buy Najdi, Naeemi and Harree types.
However, traders say the prices have not increased the same way they did last year, due to the procedures taken by pertinent authorities to facilitate the process of sheep import from other countries. There is a big supply of sheep in the market.
The average price of Naeemi ranges between SR1,000-SR1,400, while the price of Harree is SR800-SR1,2000 and Najdi SR1,000-SR1,600.
This year, several sheep traders used social media websites to offer services like sheep slaughtering and posted their contact numbers so that people do not have to come in person to the market. They can just call and arrange for payment.
Riyadh Municipality has set up areas where sheep traders can sell sheep.
The Kingdom is the largest importer of livestock because it receives over two million pilgrims every year. It imports over five million sheep every year, which accounts for 70 percent of the sheep available in the market.
