Ear-piercing census kills 35 sheep at Al Ain farm

Ear-piercing killed 35 sheep at a farm owned by an Emirati in the eastern oasis town of Al Ain and authorities overseeing a Dh40 million numbering project for the emirate’s animal wealth said they are ready to compensate the farmer.

The sheep perished at a farm in Al Anika area in Al Ain during Eid Al Fitr holiday last week following visit by health inspectors from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA), which is implementing the livestock numbering project by piercing the animal’s ears and hanging numbers.

“I lost an average three to four sheep a day during the Eid holiday…a total 35 sheep perished,’ Klaisam Al Dhahiri said.

“They died after they had infection inside and around their ears following the piercing process…I was worried that the rest of my livestock, which had totalled 90 sheep and 10 cows, could die so I brought vets and have the rings around the animals’ ears removed...they were also given antibiotics.”

Quoted by the Dubai-based Arabic language daily 'Emarat Al Youm' on Saturday, Dhahiri said she had also filmed the dying animals so she would present evidence to authorities showing their responsibility for their death.”

An official at ADFCA said Klaisam could be compensated if it is proved that her animals had perished as a result of ear-piercing.

“The Authority is ready to pay damages to any farmer whose livestock is affected by the ear-piercing operation,” said Mohammed Jalal Al Riyassa, director of communication and community service at ADFCA.

He said the process is part of a Dh40-million project to evaluate the size of the livestock in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the western region, adding that latest estimates show the emirate has around 2.3 million sheep and goat heads, 378,000 camels and 43,000 cow, accounting for nearly 80 per cent of the UAE’s total farm animal wealth.

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