DAMMAM, 1 April — The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Kingdom as well as in several European and Asian countries is taking a heavy toll on the meat market here. It has witnessed a sharp decline in demand for mutton and beef during the past two weeks.
The government had slapped a ban on imports of mutton and livestock from several European countries and Australia. After the FMD outbreak, it also banned mutton imports from India and Pakistan. Beef import from European countries was already under ban following the mad cow scare and the list now includes Pakistan.
The highest number of FMD cases in the Kingdom have been reported in the Eastern Province causing alarm among local consumers. Assurances that FMD does not affect humans did not allay fears and people avoided meat consumption. Although the Ministry of Health is keeping a close watch on the Dammam slaughterhouse to ensure that only healthy animals are being slaughtered, sales are declining.
Meat outlets in Dammam and Alkhobar reported a drop of 85 percent in sales since the outbreak of the disease. Majid, a butcher in Dammam, who until recently was selling Indian mutton, said on an average he was selling nearly 250 kg. But now “if I am lucky the sales figure will cross 50 kg mark.” He now sells only Saudi mutton. Many other shops in Dammam and Alkhobar which were previously selling Indian and Pakistani mutton are now selling Sudanese and Egyptian mutton. “Consumption is very low ... it is difficult to change people’s eating habits.”
Many restaurants in Dammam and Al-Khobar have also changed their menus due to the FMD scare. The menus, which earlier displayed several mutton delicacies, are now devoid of them and have included chicken and fish items instead.
In the meantime, the price of mutton imported from countries which are free of FMD has gone up drastically. New Zealand mutton, which was previously sold at SR21 per kg, is now being sold at SR26 to SR28.
The decrease in demand has an effect on poultry consumption, although prices remained stable. Frozen chicken has registered a moderate increase in price because of high demand. Fish prices also picked up, though marginally. The vegetable market continues to be stable but traders say if the present trend persists, the prices will go up.
FMD taking heavy toll on meat market
By Saeed Haider, Gulf Bureau
DAMMAM, 1 April — The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Kingdom as well as in several European and Asian countries is taking a heavy toll on the meat market here. It has witnessed a sharp decline in demand for mutton and beef during the past two weeks.
The government had slapped a ban on imports of mutton and livestock from several European countries and Australia. After the FMD outbreak, it also banned mutton imports from India and Pakistan. Beef import from European countries was already under ban following the mad cow scare and the list now includes Pakistan.
The highest number of FMD cases in the Kingdom have been reported in the Eastern Province causing alarm among local consumers. Assurances that FMD does not affect humans did not allay fears and people avoided meat consumption. Although the Ministry of Health is keeping a close watch on the Dammam slaughterhouse to ensure that only healthy animals are being slaughtered, sales are declining.
Meat outlets in Dammam and Alkhobar reported a drop of 85 percent in sales since the outbreak of the disease. Majid, a butcher in Dammam, who until recently was selling Indian mutton, said on an average he was selling nearly 250 kg. But now “if I am lucky the sales figure will cross 50 kg mark.” He now sells only Saudi mutton. Many other shops in Dammam and Alkhobar which were previously selling Indian and Pakistani mutton are now selling Sudanese and Egyptian mutton. “Consumption is very low ... it is difficult to change people’s eating habits.”
Many restaurants in Dammam and Al-Khobar have also changed their menus due to the FMD scare. The menus, which earlier displayed several mutton delicacies, are now devoid of them and have included chicken and fish items instead.
In the meantime, the price of mutton imported from countries which are free of FMD has gone up drastically. New Zealand mutton, which was previously sold at SR21 per kg, is now being sold at SR26 to SR28.
The decrease in demand has an effect on poultry consumption, although prices remained stable. Frozen chicken has registered a moderate increase in price because of high demand. Fish prices also picked up, though marginally. The vegetable market continues to be stable but traders say if the present trend persists, the prices will go up.
