15,000 animals slaughtered in Abu Dhabi in first 2 days of Eid

More than 15,000 sacrificial animals were slaughtered in Abu Dhabi abattoirs during the first two days of Eid Al Adha.
Abu Dhabi Municipality authorities said on the first day of Eid, public slaughterhouses in various areas of Abu Dhabi received over 9,000 sacrificial animals, while 6,000 animals were slaughtered in the public abattoirs on the second day of Eid.
Seven animals that were found unfit for consumption were destroyed, according to officials.
Veterinarians were present in the slaughterhouses round-the-clock to monitor the sacrifices before and after the slaughter.
The municipality said it had designated the Abu Dhabi Automated Slaughterhouse to handle the 3,000 sacrificial animals from the Emirati Red Crescent Authority for the Sacrifices Project 2017.
The rest of the animals were slaughtered at Abu Dhabi Public Slaughterhouse, Al Wathba Slaughterhouse, Baniyas Slaughterhouse, Al Shahama Slaughterhouse and Al Wathba Slaughterhouse.
Early last week, the municipality said that it had stepped up health measures at all abattoirs to cope up with the huge number of sacrificial animals being slaughtered during the Eid holidays.
It took several measures at abattoirs - including adding more workers - to ensure veterinary inspection of all animals to be slaughtered, the municipality pointed out.
The holidays of all workers in slaughterhouses - particularly veterinarians and inspectors - had been suspended ahead of Eid Al Adha.
"The municipal workers carried out veterinarian tests on animals before and after the slaughtering process," said the municipality officials.
Slaughterhouses of Abu Dhabi also provided tailor-made iceboxes for keeping meats to ensure proper transiting of meats and carcasses and avoid polluting or corrupting the meat due to heat exposure during the transit process.
Authorities had urged people to take all their animals to public abattoirs and warned that those who are caught slaughtering animals outside the municipal abattoirs or in their homes would face legal action.
Municipal officials pointed out that there were potential diseases associated with the slaughtering of animals in makeshift places.
- ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi

Ismail Sebugwaawo

ismail@khaleejtimes.com