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Associated Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Drought, rising prices and dwindling herds undercut this year's Eid al-Adha in North Africa
CASABLANCA, Morocco (AP) — Flocks of sheep once quilted Morocco's mountain pastures, stretched across Algeria's vast plateaus and grazed along Tunisia's green coastline. But the cascading effects of climate change have sparked a region-wide shortage that is being felt acutely as Muslims throughout North Africa celebrate Eid al-Adha. Each year, Muslims slaughter sheep to honor a passage of the Quran in which the prophet Ibrahim prepared to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, who intervened and replaced the child with a sheep. But this year, rising prices and falling supply are creating new challenges, breeders and potential buyers throughout the region say. At a market in suburban Algiers last week, breeders explained to angry patrons that their prices had increased because the cost of everything needed to raise sheep, including animal feed, transport and veterinary care, had grown. Slimane Aouadi stood watching livestock pens, discussing with his wife whether to buy a sheep to celebrate this year's Eid. 'It's the same sheep as the one I bought last year, the same look and the same weight, but it costs $75 more,' Aouadi, a doctor, told The Associated Press. Amid soaring inflation, sheep can sell for more than $1,200, an exorbitant amount in a country where average monthly incomes hover below $270. Tradition meets reality Any disruption to the ritual sacrifice can be sensitive, a blow to religious tradition and source of anger toward rising prices and the hardship they bring. So Morocco and Algeria have resorted to unprecedented measures. Algerian officials earlier this year announced plans to import a staggering 1 million sheep to make up for domestic shortages. Morocco's King Mohammed VI broke with tradition and urged Muslims to abstain from the Eid sacrifice. Local officials across the kingdom have closed livestock markets, preventing customers from buying sheep for this year's celebrations. 'Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in livestock numbers. Performing the sacrifice in these difficult circumstances will cause real harm to large segments of our people, especially those with limited incomes,' the king, who is also Morocco's highest religious authority, wrote in a February letter read on national television. Trucks have unloaded thousands of sheep in new markets in Algiers and the surrounding suburbs. University of Toulouse agro-economist Lotfi Gharnaout told the state-run newspaper El Moudjahid that Algeria's import strategy could cost between $230 and $260 million and still not even meet nationwide demand. Thinning pastures Overgrazing has long strained parts of North Africa where the population is growing and job opportunities beyond herding and farming are scarce. But after seven years of drought, it's the lack of rainfall and skyrocketing feed prices that are now shrinking herds. Drought conditions, experts say, have degraded forage lands where shepherds graze their flocks and farmers grow cereals to be sold as animal feed. With less supply, prices have spiked beyond the reach of middle class families who have historically purchased sheep for slaughter. Moroccan economist Najib Akesbi said shrinking herds stemmed directly from vegetation loss in grazing areas. The prolonged drought has compounded inflation already fueled by the war in Ukraine. 'Most livestock farming in North Africa is pastoral, which means it's farming that relies purely on nature, like wild plants and forests, and vegetation that grows off rainwater,' Akesbi, a former professor at Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, said. For breeders, he added, livestock serve as a kind of bank, assets they sell to cover expenses and repay debts. With consecutive years of drought and rising feed costs, breeders are seeing their reserves drained. Pressed herders With less natural vegetation, breeders have to spend more on supplemental feed, Acharf Majdoubi, president of Morocco's Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders said. In good years, pastures can nourish nearly all of what sheep flocks require, but in dry years, it can be as low as half or a third of the feed required. 'We have to make up the rest by buying feed like straw and barley,' he said. Not only do they need more feed. The price of barley, straw and alfalfa -- much of which has to be imported -- has also spiked. In Morocco, the price of barley and straw are three times what they were before the drought, while the price of alfalfa has more than doubled. 'The future of this profession is very difficult. Breeders leave the countryside to immigrate to the city, and some will never come back,' Achraf Majdoubi said. __ Associated Press writers in Algeria contributed reporting.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Devon charity left 'picking up the pieces' from dog breeder
An animal charity in the south-west of England is urging people to be more careful when purchasing puppies from Ging, the Tavistock branch centre manager of Margaret Green Animal Rescue, said charities were often left "picking up the pieces" when dogs are no longer needed by said the charity recently spent more than £6,500 on veterinary bills for 10 dogs that were rehomed from an irresponsible breeder."No animal ever deserves to be used for money, and it's organisations like ours that are left to pick up the pieces when these animals are no longer required by their breeders," she said. Speaking about the 10 dogs who were taken into the care of the charity, she said all of them had been rehomed but some would need medical treatment for the rest of their Clarke adopted one of the animals, a spaniel named Moss, six months said Moss had taken a while to learn some behaviours after coming into her care."She couldn't even get up a pavement curb stone, she'd fall over, she couldn't walk a hundred yards without lying down and looking hopeless," she said."Now, she's a happy little dog, she loves her food, and when she sees my walking rucksack, she is ready to go." Tim Russell, who adopted a Labrador named Sophie, said people should not be worried about taking on a dog that had been through trauma but he warned they do require a commitment."I would say to anybody to do your homework, find out about the breed, and then you should be OK, but it is a long road," he said.
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Gardening expert issues warning about plants that should NEVER be seen in your garden - and shares the most trendy ones to have this summer
Never mind the celebrities in their floral frocks and shirts, it was the plants that were the stars at last week's RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Every year breeders introduce dazzling newcomers you will want to take home and grow in your garden, patio or on a balcony right away.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Greenville Co. ordinance to protect animals passes
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — An ordinance outlining requirements for animal care was passed by Greenville County Council Tuesday night. The amended ordinance ensures animals are identified with an identification tag or microchip, so that stray dogs and cats can be reunited with their owners. Additionally, the ordinance mandates that animal rescues and breeders are register with the county, along with following minimum standards of care for keeping animals. 'We're really excited to make some positive change in Greenville County,' said advocate Barbara Wally. 'I hope that you know none of the breeders, especially the good ones, think we're anti-breeder — that's not what we're getting at.' Many animal advocates attended the meeting. 'We just really ant to see the animal population improve in Greenville County and to be able to be proud of our shelter and proud of our animal community,' she continued. Breeders also attended the meeting, but were not in support of legislation's passage, due to additional business expenses associated with the ordinance. The legislation, in full, can be read below: GVL-CO.-Animal-Control-Ordinance-CLEANDownload Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
