Saudi Gazette report MADINAH — After a long long time in the history of Prophet's City, camels were not available in Burmese yards for slaughter during Eid Al-Adha. The change was due to the municipality's ban on the slaughter of camels because of the Ministry of Health's findings that the mammal could possibility carry and spread coronavirus. Madinah's Burmese population sold only cows this time in compliance with the municipality's decision, with 13 cows slaughtered on the first day of Eid instead of camels, Arabic newspapers said. Municipality spokesperson, Yahya Saif, said there was a strict ban on the sacrifice of camels. The local livestock market saw an increase in the prices of animals due to a shortage in supply from neighboring countries. Many customers prefer local livestock due to its excellent health status, but inflated prices meant people resorting to buying imported animals. People in the livestock business noted that prices would continue to rise due to the absence of a pricing control mechanism from the Ministry of Commerce. Customers had different reactions to the increase in animal prices, with some blaming merchants who want to make extra profit during Eid, and others seasons saying the price increase is due to high demand and low supply. Livestock merchant Hasan Al-Kinani said: “Coronavirus made demand on camels very low. Despite having so many options from imported animals, customers prefer to buy mostly local.” Al-Kinani said inflation in prices is not the merchant's fault, and added that there were multiple reasons that led to the increase in prices for local and imported livestock. Another seller, Hasan Al-Zahrani, said that people are blaming sellers for high prices, but the prices have increased everywhere in the Kingdom. “The proof is that even imported livestock is expensive,” he said. “Yet people are still buying local animals because they can guarantee that they're healthy and meet their needs.”
