New livestock yards to be opened at Al Shamal, Al Khor, Abu Nakhla

The new livestock yards are set to go functional at Al Shamal, Al Khor and Abu Nakhla where the public can buy livestock at moderate prices before the end of this year. Eng. Abdulaziz al-Ziyara, director of the Department of Animal Resource at the Ministry of Municipality, told local Arabic daily Arrayah that these yards will be dedicated to selling livestock under the supervision of veterinarians in the ministry. "These yards would help livestock breeders sell directly to consumers without the intervention of any intermediary. This would lead to selling livestock at a fair price for both the breeder and the consumer, noting that the three yards are currently ready,” he said.The opening of these yards comes within the framework of developing the local marketing system for animal products. The yard at Al Shamal includes 11 barns and Al Khor has 30 barns while the yard at Abu Nakhla will be dedicated to selling livestock in vehicles under the supervision of veterinarians from the department.The department, according to al-Ziyara, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Group of Agriculture and Animal Product to collect and market local eggs from traditional farms and ranches. The initiative aims to find organised and regular marketing outlets that provide a new source of income for the breeder and ensure the sustainability of the activity. "The department is making great efforts to encourage local production of local sheep in ranches and farms. There is a special programme which includes purchasing local sheep from breeders in ranches and farms at special prices,” he said noting that the programme aims to raise the rate of self-sufficiency in red meat and maintain a strategic stock of red meat in the country.He added that three veterinary centres are currently being established in the northern complexes, Abu Nakhla and Al Wakra. He said that the construction will be completed by next year.