AN EXTRA 20,000 live sheep have been brought to Bahrain to meet soaring demand during Eid Al Fitr.

The Bahrain Livestock Company (BLC) yesterday confirmed it had imported the animals from Somalia ahead of next week’s holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan.

More than 15,000 sheep and chilled Pakistani beef has also been distributed to markets across the country in the last three days.ompany (BLC) yesterday confirmed it had imported the animals from Somalia ahead of next week’s holiday, which marks the end of Ramadan.

“Live sheep are being supplied from Somalia at a rate of 1,400 to 1,500 a day,” said BLC general manager Ebrahim Hamad.

“In preparation for the last week of Ramadan and Eid, 19,500 live sheep have been brought from Somalia.

“After veterinarians checked the sheep, they were transferred to the BLC pens where they will remain until they are distributed.”

The company said negotiations were on-going to set up deals with other meat suppliers to import more live sheep from Somalia following Eid.

Bahrain has been hit by a series of meat shortages since August last year when it turned away 21,000 sheep due to health concerns.

The Australian government accused the country of breaching an animal welfare clause when it denied the shipment entry, meaning the animals spent days at sea before eventually ending up in Pakistan where they were brutally slaughtered.

Fresh meat exports to Bahrain were also halted, forcing authorities to import livestock from countries such as Somalia, which costs substantially more.

A report released by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry cleared the BLC and Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Ministry and instead put the blame on the country’s port authorities.

 

From http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=358301