(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) With a sharp drop in supply and a significant rise in prices, 50 per cent of the sheep barns in the Filya area in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah have closed down. Some merchants here have attributed the shortage of sheep to the scorching summer temperatures which pose a grave risk to animals' life.
"The high temperature this year will kill the sheep unless we pay more money to cool them down," said Mohamed Nasser, a sheep trader. A local billy goat now costs Dh2,500 as compared to Dh2,000 for a Salalah male goat, according to Ahmed Abdelfattah, a customer. "The Somali sheep stands at Dh1,300 while the Australian one costs Dh1,000, Dh850 for the Najdi and Kashmiri, and Dh650 for the Indian," said Mustafa Yunus, a sheep trader at the Filya animal market. A record spike in cow prices has been reported as well. "An Arab cow now costs Dh7,000 as compared to Dh3,000 early this year; Dh4,000 difference," said Sameer Abdullah, another animal trader. The Filya Market is one of the biggest for imported animals, according to municipality sources. "The market consists of 116 barns for sheep and cows." The central market used to receive over 50 vehicles loaded with sheep on a daily basis, but this is no more, due to lack of supply and demand, they added. "These are not only for local consumption, but many of these are supplied to other animal markets in the country." Some residents attribute the sharp drop in sheep supply to some other reasons, like greedy traders. "Some traders have kept their sheep and cows in remote barns to hike prices and make more profits during the Eid Al Adha," said Ali Salem, Emirati. It is really so bad to have the sheep market almost empty, and about half of the barns with not a single goat or cow, said Omar Al Rais, an Emirati customer. "Those greedy traders must be penalised as they already have enough animals, but they keep them away to increase prices," he added, urging the authorities concerned to take action. Sherif Al Wakeel, who is a frequent customer of the Filya animal market, said he wanted to buy some sheep, but could not afford buying even one. "This is because of the lack of supply and skyrocketing prices." One way to solve this problem is to support local animal breeders, suggested Adnan Al Marr. "The authorities concerned should not be depending on imported animals, and help local breeders be self-sufficient." Many of the imported animals die on the way because of the drastic change in weather. "Most of the animals are imported by sea from Australia and India where the weather is cool, and fail to adjust with the hot weather here," said Sabah Rashid, an animal trader. The Kashmiri sheep also do not like the fodder provided to them here, he added. "They do not accordingly eat well, and die shortly after being imported to the local markets." Saeed Saleh, an animal trader, expected more animals to be imported from India in September when the weather gets cooler. "The problem will certainly end, as there will be more supply than demand, and hence the price will significantly come down."
Ahmed Shaaban Originally from Egypt, I have been in Dubai since December 2005. Before coming here, I worked as an English language instructor, chief En/Ar translator, proofreader, reporter in Egypt and Qatar. I have also worked as a reporter, correspondent and simultaneous translator with two satellite channels in Dubai. I have a masters degree in media, Cairo University, 2014, a bachelor degree in English language and translation, Ain Shams University, Cairo, 1996, and three post-graduate diplomas in English language and Instruction. With over 19 years of experience in translation, interpretation, EFL instruction, and reporting. I am interested in technology, aviation, politics, as well as community, parliament and defence issues. I enjoy reading, writing, exercising, and surfing the web.