Adahi estimated to reach 300,000 this year in Saudi Arabia

The project’s eight abattoirs work in shifts, and butchers, legal staff, workers and veterinarians work together to ensure that the cattle meet all legal and health terms. (AN photo)

• The general supervisor of the Adahi project said more than 300,000 sheep were slaughtered
• A pilgrim buys cattle directly from merchants at the camels and cows’ unit and pays an additional SR150 to cover operational

MINA: Official figures released by the Saudi Arabia project for the utilization of Hajj Hadi and sacrifices (Adahi) showed that more than 300,000 sheep and 200 cows were slaughtered in Makkah on Tuesday, the first day of Eid Al-Adha and the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah.
The general supervisor of the Adahi project, Rahimi Ahmed Rahimi, said that the project targeted slaughtering more than a million head of cattle during the current Hajj season (1439/2018).
He said that during the first 14 hours since the start of the legitimate time of slaughter, more than 300,000 sheep were slaughtered, with 2,202-4,243 sheep slaughtered per hour at seven abattoirs.
Rahimi said that an average of only 14 cows per hour were slaughtered on the first day of Eid.
The Me’aisem abattoir was the most productive, carrying out 19 percent of all sheep slaughters, with a total of 59,403 sheep. The second most productive abattoir was Al-Wihda, with a production rate of 16.5 percent and a total of 51,403 sheep.
A pilgrim buys cattle directly from merchants at the camels and cows’ unit and pays an additional SR150 to cover operational costs as well as the costs of legal and veterinary services and the delivery of meat to beneficiaries.
The project’s eight abattoirs work in shifts, and butchers, legal staff, workers and veterinarians work together to ensure that the cattle meet all legal and health terms.
The operating units are divided into two; open and closed.
Open units are dedicated to sheep and are open to the public. A pilgrim purchases a coupon at the unit’s entrance that states the number of sheep he wishes to buy, and can perform the rite himself or it can be performed on his behalf under his supervision. After that, the project’s administration carries out all the required processes including cleaning and skinning.
Closed units are operated on proxy-basis. A pilgrim buys coupons from an outlet, and the project carries out the slaughtering on his behalf.