As Eid al-Adha approaches, cattle markets in Tunisia are experiencing strong turnout, marked by rising demand and some tension on supply. Despite a decline in livestock in recent years, sacrificial sheep remain available, but at rising prices.
In an interview granted this Tuesday, April 14, 2026, to Tunisia Digital, the president of the Tunisian Farmers’ Union, Midani Dhaoui, indicated that sheep prices should vary between about 800 and 2000 dinars, depending on the weight and size of the animal.
Strong demand driving prices up
According to Dhaoui, the rush of consumers to buy their sheep several weeks before Eid constitutes a bad practice that fuels speculation and promotes price increases. This rush particularly benefits certain intermediaries and speculators, who buy large quantities of livestock to resell at higher prices during the Eid period.
He has thus urged citizens to favor buying directly from farmers, in order to limit monopolistic practices and to protect both the consumer and the producer.
Prices linked to the cost of red meat
The official explained that the price of the sheep is closely linked to the price per kilogram of red meat on the retail market, currently between 55 and 60 dinars. For example, a sheep with a net weight of about 15 kg could cost around 800 dinars, while prices increase progressively with the animal’s weight.
Thus, a larger sheep, with a net weight between 40 and 45 kg, could reach prices ranging between 2000 and 2500 dinars. For a large family, the average budget to plan this year would be around 2000 dinars.
Call for rationalizing consumption
Midani Dhaoui stressed the need not to succumb to panic or overconsumption, recalling that Eid al-Adha is an important religious tradition, but it must be adapted to everyone’s financial means.
He also noted that the price increase compared to the previous year remains linked to the rising cost of red meat. For example, a 20 kg sheep, sold for about 1000 dinars last year, could reach nearly 1200 dinars this year.
Towards sustainable solutions for the sector
Finally, the union president estimated that the durable solution to the crisis in the red meat sector lies in importing breeding females, rather than refrigerated meat, in order to restart national production.
In the immediate term, he called for better consumer awareness and rationalization of purchases, to limit market tensions as Eid approaches.
