With Eid Al-Adha 2021 around the corner, Saudis planning to observe the traditional animal sacrifice on the Islamic holiday show growing interest in buying livestock, such as sheep and lamb, from the 100 online stores available in the Kingdom.
Like other e-stores, these 100 outlets, 83 of which are registered on the Ministry of Commerce’s “Maroof’ platform, offer e-shoppers the chance to purchase all kinds of sheep with a simple click.
E-commerce stores, especially livestock e-sellers, present buyers with the comfort of fulfilling their purchases without the need to hit the market personally. Options like slaughtering, chopping, packaging, and delivering the sacrificial animal are also open to customers.
However, livestock market experts warn consumers of using unlicensed applications created to exploit spiked demand for livestock in the days leading up to Eid Al-Adha.
The coronavirus pandemic has opened the way for a significant increase in the number of livestock applications available to customers in the Kingdom, revealed Saud Al-Hafta, the head of Saudi Arabia’s Livestock Breeders Association (Moashei).
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hafta insists that consumers check if the e-commerce platform they are using is registered on Maroof to ensure that it is certified and credible.
Many unlicensed applications cannot be trusted, he explains, adding that the ritual slaughter of the lawful halal animals must occur in a government slaughterhouse and under the supervision of attending veterinarians.
“In the event of any defect, the Dhabihah (carcass of the sacrificed animal) is destroyed directly, with an invoice registered and stamped by the municipality,” noted Al-Hafta.
Despite the convenience offered by e-stores, Al-Hafta advises consumers to personally hit the livestock market to guarantee the quality of the animal they are buying, warning that some of the sheep being sold online may look large and stout, but are in reality unhealthy and could have received potentially unsafe injections.
