The pandemic of coronavirus It has caused large sectors of the Spanish economy to suffer. As you may already know, the losses in the hospitality industry also greatly affect the livestock sector. Now the good news is that the Muslim ramadan, a party in which the lamb is one of the main protagonists. Therefore, the Spanish sector of the breeding of this cattle is exporting to countries that celebrate it, reaching triple your sales. Do you want to know more about this Muslim festival and what is special about lamb for them? Stay with us to find out.
The feast of the lamb
The feast of the lamb or Eid al adha It is celebrated 70 days after the end of Ramadan and lasts for about 3 days. This date commemorates the day that, according to the Qur'an, Abraham killed a lamb instead of killing his son Ishmael for the mercy of his God.
Today, Spain is one of the largest lamb exporters and their livestock is essential for the proper functioning of this great Muslim celebration. Among the conditions that the animal must meet is that it must be male, adult and be healthy. Some families decide to buy the lamb already slaughtered, but most buy it alive, so that later, as tradition fulfills, it is the patriarch of the family in charge of sacrificing him.
On that appointed day, everyone gathers, visits each other, and congratulates each other. Generally, each family reserves only a third of the meat for their consumption and the rest is distributed during the visits. Likewise, much of the lamb's meat is sometimes donated to most needy. It is a holy day for pray and help the poorest, but the real background of its significance to the Muslim world is the obedience to allah. In the case of not being able to buy a lamb, sometimes you can also get a cow or a sheep instead.
Importing countries of Spanish lamb
With this Muslim religious ritual, our country has exported between 300.000 and 350.000 lambs. A maximum rise of Present in several = 40% compared to the previous year, which only reached 250.000. The countries that benefited the most from the arrival of lambs are Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Unlike Libya, that this year has been left behind. And, of course, our territory has also benefited, since thanks to the export of Spanish lambs for Ramadan can continue to alleviate the situation after the Covid-19 blow.
Saudi Arabia opened its borders to Spanish lamb in February 2020 and, despite the short time they have been importing this cattle, this year it has stood out for its numerous purchases. This has led its neighboring country Jordan to be encouraged to acquire them in a greater way as well. Algeria and Lebanon They also obtain theirs from large livestock cradles in Spain, such as Murcia, Castilla La-Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia and Aragon.
The time of the sacrifice of the Spanish lambs for Ramadan
After the end of the fast, it is time to sacrifice. For this, the lambs have to be older than six months. In addition, as we have already told you, the quality and health of the Spanish lambs for Ramadan they have to be flawless. They must sacrifice facing Mecca and, in much of the Muslim world, the process is carried out at the open air.
Although it is true that some families, instead of making the sacrifice themselves, take them to the slaughterhouse, where the animals must obtain the certification “halal”. A food is halal when it does not contain ingredients or substances from animals that are prohibited in the Koran. In addition, the animals they consume have to be slaughtered as indicated by Islamic laws.
With this celebration the sector of the spanish livestock you can breathe a little more relieved. Additionally, sales are expected to continue to rise throughout the duration of the party. Since the Spanish lambs for Ramadan they are also sent to Magreb and towards France or Germany, where there are important communities that practice the religion of Islam. Did you know the importance of this animal at this time? Now you know a little more about him.
