Tunisia Prepares for Eid al-Adha Amid Rising Prices of Sacrificial Lambs
As Eid al-Adha approaches, the markets selling sacrificial lambs are once again bustling with activity, with the sounds of vendors and bleating lambs filling the air. This year, however, a wave of price increases is casting a shadow over the preparations of Tunisian families, who are struggling to cope with the high cost of the festival, which is the peak season for consumption for Tunisian families.
From early morning, the markets selling sacrificial lambs are filled with a steady stream of customers. Trucks loaded with lambs line the roads, while citizens move from one vendor to another to examine the animals, compare prices, and evaluate their weight. Amidst the smell of hay and dust kicked up by the movement of the flock, potential buyers are busy inspecting the lambs, checking their health and size, and engaging in long negotiations over the price. Each side is trying to get the "last word" to conclude the sale.
Some vendors are trying to entice customers by touting the quality of the breed or emphasizing the quality of the breeding, while citizens continue to move from one "Rahba" (market) to another in the hope of finding a lamb at a price that suits their budget.
Prices Vary Widely
Between those who are content to ask for prices and those who decide to engage in long negotiations in the hope of getting a discount, the high cost of sacrificial lambs is a dominant feature in the markets. As soon as a buyer approaches a lamb that seems suitable by its size or breed, the conversation quickly shifts to a discussion of the price, amidst repeated attempts to reach a "reasonable" price for both parties.
Official data shows that the reference price in organized markets ranges from 23.8 to 27 dinars per kilogram of live weight, depending on the weight of the animal. However, prices in several free markets exceed these levels in many cases.
The price of some medium-sized animals has exceeded 1,700 dinars, while the prices of large animals, which attract the attention of most families, have reached 3,000 dinars in some markets. The prices of small lambs start at around 800 dinars, while the prices of medium-sized animals range from 1,400 to 1,700 dinars, exceeding 2,000 dinars for larger animals, depending on the breed, market, and breeding method, according to the TAP Agency.
Citizens Struggle to Balance Tradition and Cost
Professionals in the sector estimate that the average prices recorded this season exceed those of many previous seasons due to the rise in the cost of animal feed, transportation, and veterinary care.
Citizens interviewed in different regions expressed their deep dissatisfaction with the surge in prices of sacrificial lambs in the Rahbas, estimating that these prices far exceed the financial capabilities of families, at a time when the purchasing power of citizens is experiencing a continuous erosion, parallel to the rise in daily expenses.
While some continue to visit the markets in the hope of finding a lamb at an affordable price, others are content to negotiate prices before leaving in silence.
Jalel, a public sector employee, estimated that the price of a lamb now equals a complete monthly salary, or even more, adding that the absolute priority today is given to basic expenses such as housing, food, and education.
For her part, Salwa, an employee in the private sector, confided that she had visited several markets without success and was considering this year associating with a relative to share the costs of a single sacrifice.
On the other hand, many families have announced that they have decided to give up buying a lamb for this season and to content themselves with acquiring small quantities of meat, as is the case for Mounira, a teacher, who explained that the accumulation of charges and the high cost of living prevented her from performing this rite this year.
The High Cost of Sacrificial Lambs
These complaints about the surge in prices of sacrificial lambs are not isolated from the general economic situation, as Tunisian families are suffering from continuous financial pressures due to the rise in the cost of living and essential products.
According to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), the inflation rate at the family consumption level increased in April 2026 to 5.5%, compared to 5% in March, driven mainly by the rise in prices of food products by 8.2%, compared to 6.8% the previous month.
It also shows a rise of 9.3% for clothing and shoes, 19.2% for fresh fruits, 16.1% for poultry and lamb meat, 13.5% for fresh vegetables, 12% for beef, and 11.9% for fresh fish.
In the face of these successive increases, a large category of Tunisians is facing increased difficulties in reconciling the demands of daily life and the high cost of the sacrificial lamb, despite the historical attachment of families to preserving this social and religious tradition.
The Justification of Breeders
On the other side of the livestock market, breeders and vendors are defending the prices practiced during this season, while asserting that the cost of breeding animals has increased significantly over the past few months due to the rise in the prices of fodder, transportation costs, and veterinary care.
Between the stacks of barley and the trucks that continue to transport flocks from one region to another, a vendor explains that "the cost of breeding per head has increased significantly," estimating that the current prices "reflect the real expenses borne by the breeder."
Several professionals also indicate that their profit margin has decreased compared to previous years due to the continuous increase in production costs, particularly for small breeders.
The Consumer Defense Organization (ODC) notes that intermediaries and speculators have contributed to driving up prices on the markets, considering that the farmer does not realize real profits compared to the amounts paid by citizens to buy the sacrificial lamb.
Despite the High Prices, Affluence Continues
Despite the complaints of many citizens related to the surge in prices, commercial activity has not stopped in the livestock markets, where sales continue at a variable pace as Eid al-Adha approaches.
Several vendors indicate that the pace of sales "has gradually improved" over the past few days, predicting that activity will reach its peak on the eve of Eid al-Adha, "as is the case every year."
In the crowded alleys of the markets, families are walking between the rows, while children are eager to approach the lambs, touch them, or try to choose the "lamb" that will accompany them home in an atmosphere that combines festive joy and concerns expressed by adults.
A citizen, a merchant by profession, stated that he had bought his lamb despite its high price, considering that "the priority remains to preserve this tradition."
Some vendors consider that the current prices "remain affordable" when compared to production costs, emphasizing that the price depends on several factors, including fodder costs, transportation costs, veterinary care, animal size, and breed.
In Tunisia, the "Eid lamb" remains more than just a simple animal sacrificed during a religious festival. It represents a part of the collective memory and social traditions passed down from generation to generation.
In many neighborhoods, children proudly display their decorated lambs and parade them among the neighbors, while some families anoint and decorate the lamb in a festive atmosphere reflecting the specificity of Tunisian heritage related to Eid al-Adha.
Between the pressures of purchasing power and the desire of a large part of Tunisians to preserve this rite despite its cost, a landscape is emerging where economic considerations and social sentiments are intertwined, awaiting what the coming days will reveal about the evolution of prices and the pace of affluence towards the markets.
