CAIRO: The high prices of meat and sheep are causing people to have second thoughts about offering the Eid Al Adha sacrifice. Traditionally, Muslims slaughter sheep during this Eid to offer the meat as charity to those most in need. The sacrifice ritual traces its roots to the Quranic and Biblical story of Abraham and his son Ismail. But these traditions may now themselves be sacrificed because of the hike in meat prices, with which consumers have been grappling for the past decade. No longer would you find the sheep tethered to some buildings or villas' main gates. Nor would you hear the articulate resonant 'maaaa.' that should indicate the presence of animals ready to be offered as sacrifice. But official figures show that despite the affordability problem, the sale and consumption of meat does increase at this time of the year by 150 percent Sheep dealers attribute the change in Al Adha traditions to other factors besides affordability. "It was a pleasure for many people to buy young lambs and fatten them for months before the sacrifice was due, recalls Mostafa Mohammed, one private sheep dealer in Torah, Cairo. "Now there is a problem of space in the majority of the small lodgings. Some also avoid sacrificing at home for hygienic purposes. Even if there is enough space, the fodder rates are unaffordable, for the corn is LE 2.50 per kilo, 'green barsim' 25 piastres for the bundle, so the final cost would amount to the value of a grown lamb, so why take the pain? Mostafa explained. A few days ahead of the Eid, which falls on Saturday Dec. 30, the price of local sheep ranges from LE 18.50 to LE 19.50 per kilo and is expected to rise as the next weekend nears. The cheapest lamb that weighs 40 kg is priced at LE 800 as compared to LE 1200 for one that weighs more than 70 kg. But agricultural directorates that represent official outlets sell the farm animal at LE 16.50 and LE 17 per kilo, undercutting private sheep dealers. "We are sold out, said Samy Samir, another private dealer. "Better reserve your sacrifice now. There is no chance you could get anything if you come on the day of Eid, he warned. "If you're lucky you might get it for twice as much, you never know. The current rivalry is between the different kinds of local sheep known as baladi; sheep outlets are dealing in two kinds: Bahrawy, from the Delta, and Saedi, from Upper Egypt. But the Saedi could be purchased for LE 19.50 per kilo. "That one pound difference is justified, stressed Kulusi, a dealer. "Look at the tail. The Bahrawy is half meat and half fat as opposed to Saedi which is two-thirds meat. Look at the Bahrawy's tail; it's big and fatty; only the tail would weigh no less than 15 kg, he added. Most consumers opt for medium size sheep between 45 and 50 kg when some, scared away by the baladi's rates, would prefer the Australian and Somali sheep that are offered for LE 15 per kilo. But those were another disappointment, for when The Daily Star Egypt visited outlets dealing in them the only available were big animals that weighed no less than 60 kg. "What! LE 900 for an Australian lamb!' screamed one woman who had no other choice. She immediately wanted to buy two. The seller explained that small Australian sheep were sold out the day the shipments landed in town, so people are left with these sizeable ones. The other alternative remains the calves, but those are the specialty of the well-to-do. "Some come together and share a calf that we sell for no less than LE 3,600, said Kulusi Despite the fact that some keep mulling it over every year, eventually they have to rush and buy the sacrifice. "That makes me feel more comfortable than buying an equal amount of meat at the butcher's, said one buyer. "It's the sunna - tradition of the Prophet Mohammed. Tips about buying Eid sheep: . Feel the back of the sheep and make sure it's full and plump. Avoid it when the back is bony.. The healthy sheep should have an appetite for food and should move around actively.. The animal's eyes should be bright and the hair clean and shiny.. Make sure the sheep has full horns and strong legs.. Make sure the belly is not full, especially on the right side, for some dealers would stuff it to increase weight.. Make sure there is no rheum around the eyes and the nostrils.. The animal's face should be ruddy with health. Check for symptoms of fatigue or diarrhea.
