The cancellation of the Eid al-Adha sacrifice has sent shockwaves through the sheep market, disrupting what is typically a period of intense activity. Uncertainty, disappointment, and opportunism now define a sector in crisis. Prices are plummeting, livestock breeders are worried, and the chennakas—the intermediaries who dominate sheep trading—are seeing their role upended.
Livestock commerce relies on a well-established system in which chennakas hold significant influence. These middlemen purchase sheep from breeders well in advance of Eid, aiming to resell them at steep markups. This year, however, their gamble backfired. Many had invested heavily, expecting high demand and soaring prices. Instead, the unexpected recommendation to forgo the sacrifice has brought the market to a standstill—sales are sluggish, prices have collapsed, and unsold stock is piling up. Some intermediaries are desperately slashing prices to limit their losses, while others are clinging to the hope of a last-minute market rebound.
At the weekly souks, the atmosphere is tense. In Bir Jdid’s well-known Thursday market, “Khmiss,” frustration is evident. Brahim, a longtime chennak, is struggling to salvage what he can.
“It’s a disaster! I bought my sheep for over 3,500 dirhams each, thinking I could sell them for 4,500 or 5,000. Now, no one wants to buy. Even at 2,500 dirhams, people are still negotiating! I have debts to pay and feed costs to cover… If this continues, I’ll lose everything.”
Breeders, already strained by drought and skyrocketing feed prices, are watching their expected profits vanish. Many had counted on Eid sales to recover from a tough year, but the sharp drop in prices leaves them with few options. Some blame the chennakas for years of price speculation, arguing they are now trapped by their own tactics. Meanwhile, the intermediaries claim they were caught off guard and are scrambling to offload their stock before losses become unsustainable.
For consumers, reactions are mixed. For many families, purchasing a sheep for Eid represents a significant financial burden, sometimes amounting to 30-40% of their annual meat budget. With ongoing economic struggles and inflation, the cancellation brings relief. Others, deeply attached to the tradition, are taking advantage of the price drop, but overall, caution prevails.
In a working-class neighborhood of Casablanca, Amina, a mother of three, is still undecided.
“Every year, we make sacrifices to afford a sheep. This time, I feel relieved… I can use the money for my children’s clothes and to pay off a small debt. But at the same time, I feel a pang of sadness. My kids are used to celebrating Eid, watching their father perform the sacrifice. I worry they’ll be disappointed.”
Eid al-Adha typically drives a surge in livestock demand. Each year, around 7.7 million sheep are sacrificed, making this period a crucial economic lifeline for breeders and traders. But this year, the Royal directive has led to an immediate price collapse.
In a market already weakened by drought and inflation, the sudden downturn has left breeders reeling. While some consumers see an opportunity to buy sheep at lower prices, many households are choosing to follow the Royal recommendation, further stalling market recovery.
According to a study by Morocco’s High Commission for Planning (HCP), the trend of forgoing the Eid sacrifice has been steadily growing. In 2022, 12.6% of Moroccan households opted out, compared to just 4.7% in 2014. The shift is more pronounced in urban areas, where 14.3% of families had already made this choice, versus 5.9% in rural regions.
This is not the first time Morocco has suspended the ritual. In 1963, amid the Sand War with Algeria, a Royal directive canceled the sacrifice. Similar measures were taken in 1981 and 1996 due to severe droughts that necessitated livestock preservation.
However, today’s decision comes in a different context—one of shifting priorities and evolving societal attitudes, where more Moroccans are re-evaluating their financial and social commitments.
As for the chennakas, their future remains uncertain. Some see this crisis as an opportunity to reform the industry, while others fear a brutal restructuring that could drive many out of business.
In the coming weeks, the market will need to find a new balance. Between price adjustments, a redefined role for intermediaries, and changing consumer habits, Eid al-Adha 2025 may well mark a turning point in how Moroccans approach this long-standing tradition.
Mohamed MOUNADI
