Sheep prices rise ahead of Eid al-Adha despite expectations of strong supply

With less than three weeks remaining before Eid al-Adha, sheep prices are reportedly rising despite earlier reassurances of abundant supply and affordable livestock, raising concerns among Moroccan families preparing for the holiday.

Breeders and livestock professionals, however, say the current increase is temporary and largely driven by strong early demand, while large numbers of sheep have yet to reach markets.

“Prices are driven by supply and demand, and demand is currently high as many consumers have started looking for their Eid sheep a bit early, possibly because Eid al-Adha was not observed last year,” said Said Chatibi, general director of the National Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders.

Supply is still not abundant in markets, Chatibi told Hespress English, explaining that breeders are still in the final stages of fattening and preparing livestock for Eid. Only afterward do they begin bringing animals to market for sale.

Livestock markets usually do not become fully active until the final 10 days before Eid al-Adha, when more animals arrive after preparations are completed.

“Supply is expected to begin increasing gradually by the end of this week, which could help restore balance in prices as it becomes more visible and may even exceed demand,” he said.

Livestock breeders in Morocco previously said supply is expected to remain strong this year, with sheep prices likely ranging between MAD 2,000 and MAD 6,000 ($200 to $600).

They stressed that livestock should remain relatively affordable despite rising feed costs linked to tensions in the Middle East.

The expected increase in supply this year is largely driven by Morocco’s suspension of Eid al-Adha last year following a call by King Mohammed VI to forgo ritual slaughter because of drought and economic pressures, as well as additional government measures such as a temporary ban on slaughtering female sheep.

According to several livestock breeders at SIAM 2026, those measures helped rebuild the national herd.

For Miloud, a breeder from Chichaoua, there is no significant increase in livestock prices this year, as supply remains sufficient.

He told Hespress English that the “increase people talk about comes from early buyers who leave the sheep with breeders and pay around MAD 200 per day for feeding and care until Eid.”

The reported price increases also come amid complaints from breeders and farmers that some companies managing weekly livestock markets are not respecting official fee schedules and are instead imposing higher charges for entry, display space and related services.

Breeders say those additional costs are pushing livestock prices higher ahead of Eid al-Adha.