JEDDAH —A number of illegal butchers have been spotted waiting outside the new main slaughterhouse, opened seven months ago, here passing on their phone numbers to all those coming to the abattoir. They are offering low charges and are willing to slaughter the sacrificial animal at any place. These butchers are openly contravening health regulations and are engaged in these negative and unhygienic practices. Okaz/Saudi Gazette noticed many such butchers lining up near the slaughterhouse while on the other side there were small pickups loading cattle and sheep ready for sale in the black market. Ali Al-Zahrani, supervisor of the slaughterhouse, said the slaughterhouse can handle 500 sheep, 500 cattle and camels a day and it is ready to offer quick services to the customers. “Jeddah Municipality has hired skilled butchers who are fast and can slaughter the sacrificial animal and get it ready in less than five minutes. Customers should head for the slaughterhouse after Isha prayer, take a number, and wait for not more than an hour to get their sacrificial meat ready for them,” Al-Zahrani added. Veterinarian Dr. Mazin Refae examines animals before and after getting slaughtered to ensure their meat is edible and does not constitute any public health dangers. He urged the general public to use the services of the slaughterhouse because over there animals are examined medically and all butchers meet hygiene requirements unlike the illegal ones outside.
