UAE livestock prices are three times costlier

Livestock prices in the UAE have shot up by three-and-a-half times over the past few weeks following export ban by India and Pakistan.

Animal traders at the Al Qesis Cattle Market told Emirates 24|7 that sheep prices have jumped to Dh6,000 now compared to Dh1,360 during the early days of the holy month of Ramadan.

Mohammed Iqbal, an animal trader at the Al Qesis Cattle Market, said: “This year the price of animals is much higher than the previous Ramadan season. Even though the demand has been relatively subdued due to high temperature and vacation period, the price of a big sheep weighting 120 kgs ranges from Dh4,000 to Dh6,000. This high price is due to the ban imposed by Pakistan and India. These are mainly the Somalian goats that are currently available in the market.”

He said the per kilogram price of a live sheep ranges from Dh40 to Dh50. The high price in the cattle market is also affecting the price in local meat shops too. The price of a sheep weighting ten to twelve kilogram is between Dh 350 to Dh 400

“In the UAE, price of livestock (sheep especially) was under control, but after the tenth day of Ramadan, it has shot up again due to a shortage in supply from Pakistan, a main source of live sheep and cattle. “The price of a live sheep weighting 120 kg has shot up from Dh1,300 to Dh6,000 per sheep. When the price went up to Dh2,300 before Ramadan, Dubai Municipality intervened and regulated the price at Dh1,300 per sheep. Now the price has shot up again,” said a trader. India, Pakistan and Somalia are three main countries that export livestock to the UAE. “We expect supply from India to be normal after two months,” he said.

He said the situation may ease after a few months if both countries end ban on livestock export.

“A lot of processed and cut meat is available in the market but the Ramadan demand is mainly for live animals. Pakistan government banned export of meat and livestock for three months from July 2011 to curb skyrocketing meat prices in the domestic market, caused mainly by the death of 1.5 million cattles in the 2010 floods that devastated the country. According to reports, mutton prices in Pakistan increased  from Rs271 per kg (Dh12) to Rs406 (Dh17.5) and beef from Rs154 to Rs241 between 2008-09 and 2010-11, respectively,” Iqbal added.

He said local customers mainly buy small sheep while bigger sheep are generally bought by hotels and restaurants.

Imran Mujeeb, another dealer, said demand for livestock is not very encouraging and high price of livestock and rising temperature are also preventing people from coming to the market.

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