Slaughter of female sheep banned for a year in Morocco
Morocco has officially instated a ban on the slaughter of female sheep and goats, from March 19th 2025, until March 2026.
According to government funded Morocco World News, The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Agriculture issued a circular to regional governors, provincial officials, and the Director General of the National Office for Food Safety in order to instate the new measure.
Six year back to back droughts have severely impacted national herds, causing numbers of sheep and goats to dwindle in a 38% decrease in livestock numbers compared to 2016.
At the same time, rising market prices and the cost of animal feed has forced many breeders to reduce their herds by slaughtering female animals intended for breeding, posing a long-term threat to the sustainability of the Moroccan livestock sector.
The ban aims to better manage the development of livestock structures by supporting efforts to rebuild herds across the country.
Morocco’s ban will be enforced at all slaughterhouses nationally, exceptions will be made for animals deemed unfit for breeding, non-productive animals, and those with more than eight permanent teeth. Additionally imported animals intended for slaughter are also exempt.
Ahmed El Bawari, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture confirmed that the ban is part of a national strategy aimed at restructuring the sector, also addressing the challenges caused by climate change.
In February, King Mohammed VI asked that citizens refrain from the annual Eid al-Adha ritual sacrifice of sheep and cattle as a result of the extreme drought Morocco has faced over the past few years.
Morocco World News, Maghrebi, MSN
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