Over 289,000 live animals provided to meet consumer meeds
Muscat: The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources has said that 289,089 heads of livestock were made available to consumers during January and February 2025, of those 267,213 are heads of sheep and goats and 21,876 cows.
Eng. Khalfan Mattar Al Sharji, Director General of Livestock, said that the Ministry is acting in coordination with livestock import companies to meet local market needs for livestock and red meat over the forthcoming period. For this purpose, a total of 129 permits have so far been issued for the firms to make the imports, he added.
Al Sharji pointed out that the total number of livestock allowed to be imported stood at 359,150. He added that the number included 332,700 goats and sheep and 26,450 heads of cattle.
He explained that local market needs for red meat rises during the holy month of Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, prompting higher demand for livestock imports.
Al Sharji affirmed that, to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, epidemics or common livestock diseases in the Sultanate of Oman, the veterinary quarantine personnel are now set in full action round the clock, conducting necessary health checks on all livestock imports.
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