Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt breeders hit by weak Eid al‑Adha demand
Egyptian livestock breeders are facing a drop in consumers' purchasing power during this year’s Eid al-Adha season, despite an increased supply of sacrificial animals that has kept prices stable and squeezed breeders’ profit margins, the head of the Farmers Syndicate said on Sunday.
Hussein Abu Saddam told Masrawy that prices of livestock for sacrifice have remained steady compared with last year, even as the costs of feed and raising animals have climbed. He said breeders are “the most affected party” amid weak demand.
According to Abu Saddam, high‑quality live cattle are selling for 190 to 200 Egyptian pounds per kilo, while buffalo range between 165 and 170 pounds. Sheep and goats are priced between 200 and 220 pounds per kilo. Prices have not changed from last year, he added.
He said livestock breeders are absorbing the higher production costs, noting that feed prices have risen by around 30 percent from a year earlier, placing additional strain on small producers.
Abu Saddam said the combination of weaker purchasing power and lower demand has been a key factor in keeping prices from rising. He also pointed to the government’s release of large quantities of frozen, chilled, and live meat, which helped stabilize the market.
The decline in demand is weighing on breeders and on the country’s livestock sector, he warned. Many small breeders have reduced the number of animals they raise because of high costs and shrinking returns. Some families that once raised multiple animals now keep only one due to rising feed and care expenses.
He added that breeders are trying to sell their livestock before the end of the Eid season, as prices usually fall afterward when demand drops, exposing them to further losses as feeding and care costs continue.