The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki, was passing through the House of Representatives on Monday. The demand for cattle destined for slaughter for the Eid Al Adha sacrifice is estimated at around 5.6 million head, including 5.1 million sheep and 500,000 goats, he said in response to a oral question.
And to specify that “the supply, which amounts to nearly 8 million heads, largely covers the demand”, recalling in this sense, that his Department has put in place since the beginning of the year 2022 a national plan special control of the quality of meat and fodder as well as a program of continuous monitoring of the situation of the supply of the market in animals intended for the slaughter for the sacrifice of Aïd Al Adha.
In this regard, he mentioned the registration of 242,000 sheep and goat breeding and fattening units for this festival.
In addition, as of July 1, 7.2 million heads of sheep and goats have been identified across the national territory, the minister said, adding that this operation is free for the benefit of all breeders and feeders.
The minister also stressed that the identification consists of placing on one of the ears of the animals, a yellow loop which bears a unique serial number and the mention “Aid Al Adha” and this, in order to ensure the traceability of these animals if necessary.
At the same time, the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) is strengthening surveillance by checking the quality of drinking water, livestock feed and medicines used by farms and fattening units, he said, noting that the Office has also put in place rigorous monitoring of the transport of poultry droppings, through the establishment of prior authorization from its veterinary services, in order to follow its progress and its destination.
These are, Sadiki further detailed, 3,000 control operations, during which 600 samples of animal feed, 62 samples of drinking water and 1,113 samples of meat were taken. Following these checks, 15 offense reports were drawn up and sent to the courts.
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