The Eid Al-Fitr brought in cheer with feasts, weddings and family gatherings but also raised the prices of meat which is an essential component of these occasions.

Abdullah Al-Shamrani spends Eid holidays with his cousins and relatives in rented venues. On the first day of Eid, it is customary for them to gather and have dinner together. He told Arab News that the increase in sheep prices was expected owing to the high demand of the precious commodity. “I bought a goat on the first day of Eid and it cost me SR1,200,” Al-Shamrani said.

Sheep seller Ahmed Al-Housni said that the increase in the meat prices is an annual phenomenon particularly during the Eid Al-Adha and Eid Al-Fitr festivities and summer vacations. “This is the peak season for the sheep market and prices normally go up as Eid approaches,” he said.

Al-Housni owns 40 head of sheep, the prices of which vary according to the size of each animal. “I sell around 20 of them during this season and prices range from between SR850 to SR1,300,” he said.

Sheep breeder, Mohammed Murshad buys most of his animals in bulk from the southern part of the Kingdom, particularly Taif. The younger animals ranging between one-to-two-years old with permanent teeth are most in demand. Older sheep are usually sold on wedding occasions owing to their bigger size.

According to sheep seller Saleh Al-Shahri, the rise in meat prices is driven by the increased costs of rearing sheep including the high cost of labor and fodder. Some sellers breed a certain type of sheep which is especially used for the festive occasions.

Saudis in Jeddah and the Southern Province prefer the Harri, which can fetch prices of up to SR1,400 during this season.

The Najd breed, which takes its name from the Najd region, is widely preferred in Najd and is sold for SR1,550. The price of Naimi, a small breed which is native to the northern parts of the Kingdom and Syria, ranges from SR1,400 to SR2,200, depending on the size of the animal.