Muscat: More than 5,000 animals were slaughtered in Muscat during the Eid Al Adha celebrations, the municipality reported.
Muslims in Oman and around the world sacrifice livestock as a religious ritual.
Around 3150 cattle were sacrificed in the capital’s slaughterhouses on September 12, the first day of Eid, including around 3,000 sheep, 121 cows and a camel, Muscat Municipality reported.
Fewer animals were slaughtered on the second day of the festival of sacrifice.
The municipality announced the slaughtering of 2,053 cattle on September 13.
Of the total number, 2021 sheep, 31 cows and a camel were slaughtered.
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Two new slaughterhouses were opened by the Muscat Municipality in Amerat and Seeb.
The stats were recorded in the three government-run slaughterhouses located in Seeb, Amerat and Mabela temporary slaughterhouse.
But the number is expected to rise as most people still prefer to slaughter animals personally at home as has been the tradition during Eid, despite warnings.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) advised the public to adopt preventive measures and follow hygiene norms to avoid contracting the Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) while slaughtering animals.
Before Eid started, the ministry called on the public to ensure that the animals they purchase are free of ticks and that they should not touch or crush or remove ticks by hand. The ministry also added that people should wear protective clothing, gloves and long shoes when handling animals and their tissues.