Large numbers of residents across the country flocked to the various slaughterhouses designated by Widam Food Company to get their Eid sacrificial sheep slaughtered and processed.
Mussa Ahmed al-Othman, director of Widam Public Relations Department, told local Arabic daily Arrayah that Widam had allocated 10 slaughterhouses to work during the Eid holidays and provide all the related services to the customers.
The automated slaughterhouse was allocated for the subsidised Romanian Sheep through the coupon system for individual customers. A total of more than 4,000 sheep were distributed during the first two days of Eid. on Tuesday and Wednesday, the automated slaughterhouse will be allocated to the charities to process their needs. 
The slaughterhouse at Al Mamoura Area provides customers with its services for sheep, cows and camels, besides other slaughterhouses at Al Rayyan, Muaither, Umm Salal, Al Mazrouah, Al Shammal, Al Sheehaniyah. Al Wakrah Mobile Slaughterhouse was introduced for the first time to serve the inhabitants of the southern areas. 
The official explained that Widam has also provided its customers with delivery services throughout the Eid holidays until Tuesday. Those who booked their subsidised sheep at the launch of the initiative would receive the meat at their doorsteps for a nominal charge.
Al-Othman pointed out that Widam has provided the local market with 30,000 chilled sheep imported daily by air from Australia to cater to the needs of the local market. In addition, Widam has provided the local market with 15,000 heads of subsidised sheep, 9,000 other subsidised sheep and more than 6,000 of various types.
Dr Daffallah Abdulghani, a veterinarian, said that all the sheep are subjected to full inspection and checkup to ensure they are compliant with the set standards and free from diseases. There is a committee to check all the imported sheep before they are brought inside the barns, and the non-compliant sheep are kept apart. 
The sheep would be given all the necessary care in terms of fodder, water, vitamins and veterinary follow-ups, besides maintaining adequate ventilation and healthy environment at the barns until they are delivered to the customers to be slaughtered.
Dr Mozammel Atta Ali, animal production experts at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment's (MME) Animal Wealth Department, said that the national joint initiative between the MME and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce has achieved its target in providing consumers with their requirement of red meat at reasonable prices.
It also helped local farm owners market their sheep. The initiative succeeded in considerably increasing the number of local sheep provided to the local market by supporting local farmers, he added.
Related Story