Demand for mutton spikes during Ramadan

Mutton is in big demand in Qatar's butcheries and retail counters at hypermarkets and supermarkets, Gulf Times reported.

It is estimated that anywhere between 5,500 and 6,500 sheep are consumed daily across the country during the holy month of Ramadan.

The figure is based on the officially reported consumption figures of about 3,500 sheep a day during Ramadan in 2011 when Qatar's population was only around 1.4m. Now the country's population is more than 2.58m.

Retailers told Gulf Times that their current daily sale of mutton is at least 150-200% more than what it is during the usual period.

Queues of customers waiting to buy mutton are a common sight at butcheries and hypermarkets even late in the evenings these days.

Operators of at least three butcheries in Doha areas said very little beef is sold nowadays at their shops as most customers prefer mutton.

At some of the Qatar Livestock and Meat Company (Mawashi) run outlets, Qataris buying sheep weighing 10kg and more is a common sight these days.

Usually the demand among Qataris is for sheep imported from Syria. However, owing to internal disturbances, there has been a big fall in the sheep quantity arriving from that country.

In its place, many locals preferred sheep from Jordan, even though the price is higher compared to other options available in the market.

The largest exporter of sheep to Qatar is believed to be Australia and this year also a substantial number of sheep has been imported for Ramadan.

According to retailer Azeez Rahman, mutton sale at many shops across Qatar during Ramadan accounts for more than one-third of their annual sales.

Much of the sale takes place in the first 15 days of the holy month, he said, adding that sales soar to new heights every year in the three or four days prior to Eid.

Courtesy: gulf-times.com