Spanish sheep arrive in Tangier, Morocco, offering affordable option for Eid sacrifices

MOROCCO – The recent arrival of Spanish sheep in Tangier has sparked widespread interest among consumers seeking cost-effective options for Eid al-Adha sacrifices. 

According to reports from digital media outlets in the neighboring country, the first shipment of Spanish sheep, totaling approximately 480 animals, arrived via truck at an agricultural farm on the outskirts of Tangier.

Transported by a Spanish driver, these sheep originated from southern Spain and entered Morocco through the Tangier Med port.

The National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) is currently in the process of finalizing paperwork to facilitate the importation of additional sheep from Spain and various other countries.

The owner of the agricultural farm where the Spanish sheep were delivered confirmed that this initial batch is just the beginning, with plans to import over 2,000 heads of livestock in the coming days.

Sales of the imported sheep are set to commence on Sunday, with prices ranging from 1,800 (US$180) to 3,000 (US$300) dirhams.

These competitive prices offer a more affordable alternative to locally sourced Moroccan sheep, which can cost between 3,000 to 8,000 dirhams (US$300 to US$800) due to recent market fluctuations.

This development follows the Moroccan government’s decision in March to reinstate the 2023 Sheep Import Subsidy Measure, aimed at importing 300,000 sheep to bolster the domestic market.

The subsidy, effective from March 15 to June 15, aimed to address market demand during peak periods.

As of 2020, sheep constituted the majority of livestock in Morocco, with over 22 million heads counted.

Additionally, the country’s goat population totaled approximately six million heads, while cattle numbered around three million heads.

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