Rabat’s streets were unexpectedly disturbed this Sunday by “runaway cattle,” as two freshly imported calves were seen roaming the capital’s streets.
Morocco decided to import Brazilian cattle due to an unplanned scarcity in Moroccan cattle, following a severe drought, and rising costs of livestock breeding.
The calves’ unusual appearance worried Moroccans, as several took to the internet to voice concern over the calves meat’s quality, saying that the price in Brazil for local cattle does not exceed two dollars per kilogram, while the cost of red meat in Morocco now oscillates between eight and ten dollars.
Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Siddiqui recently spoke about the quality of Brazilian cows, stressing that the shipment that entered Morocco is of the excellent quality, and that the Kingdom intends to import 20,000 heads of cows from several countries, including Brazil, in addition to Spain and France.
The Minister stressed that this policy aims to preserve the national herd, and to reduce the price of red meat locally.
Seeing the emancipated cattle intensified Moroccans’ worries about the recent batch of imported cattle from Brazil, which has been making headlines for little over a week.
However, according to Hespress AR sources, the cattle seen on Rabat’s streets are not destined for the city’s consumption slaughterhouses.
The same sources stated that the calves are private property, belonging to an investor that acquired them for his own interest.
Professional bodies had previously confirmed that there will be no Brazilian calves meat sold in the capital.
In response to questions about the presence of these calves in the Akkari slaughterhouse in Rabat, despite professionals’ boycott of Brazilian cattle, the Hespress AR source said: “Investors are given these slaughter spaces for slaughtering and cooling, and they pay expenses in exchange for benefiting from the facilities’ services.”
“As for the calves destined for citizens, they are ordinary meat that does not differ from the norm,” said the source, adding that “there is not a single kilogram of Brazilian beef sold from the Rabat slaughterhouses.”
To further ease citizens’ concerns, the National Office of Food Safety has reassured Moroccan consumers, assuring the calves are healthy and comply with standards in force.
Minister Delegate and Government Spokesman Mustapha Baitas also promised that “the quality of Brazilian cattle complies with quality standards, and is subject to different levels of controls and examination.”
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