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Morocco strengthens livestock sector through royal initiatives amid challenges
Morocco has successfully preserved its livestock sector despite prolonged droughts and the aftermath of COVID-19, thanks to strategic measures led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari announced during a press briefing on Thursday.
Strategic actions safeguard national herds
El Bouari highlighted the King’s pivotal decision to suspend the customary Eid Al Adha animal sacrifice this year, which played a critical role in protecting national herds. Complementing this initiative, a ban on slaughtering female livestock has been strictly enforced, significantly boosting the reproductive capacity of herds.
Improved weather conditions between January and April 2025 further aided pasture recovery, while breeders demonstrated remarkable resilience during these challenging times.
Livestock population shows recovery
A nationwide census conducted between June 26 and August 11, 2025, revealed Morocco’s livestock population now exceeds 32.8 million heads. This includes 9.4 million new births recorded between December 2024 and March 2025.
Efforts have preserved 3 million female breeders and 3.5 million male sheep, ensuring continued supply for the country’s red meat market. However, some setbacks remain: cattle numbers are still 30% below pre-COVID levels, while camel populations have dropped by nearly 30% due to vegetation loss and reduced pastureland.
Government allocates $1.1 billion in support
Under royal directives, the government has allocated nearly MAD 11 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in financial aid to livestock breeders. These funds are intended to purchase feed, preserve breeding females, reduce farmer debt, and fund vaccination and technical assistance campaigns.
To support local production, customs duties and VAT on imported livestock and powdered milk have been suspended, while cattle import exemptions continue to stabilize market supply and facilitate herd recovery.
Supporting small-scale breeders
The majority of beneficiaries from these initiatives are small-scale breeders: 90% of sheep and goat farmers own fewer than 50 animals, 74% own fewer than 20, and 93% of cattle breeders manage fewer than 10 heads.
The census operation, conducted by over 39,000 personnel from various ministries and national security forces, ensured accurate data collection on-site, with all information integrated into a central database.
Ensuring sustainability and food security
El Bouari emphasized that these ongoing measures are critical to sustaining Morocco’s meat and dairy production sectors. By ensuring food security and boosting resilience, the government aims to secure the industry’s long-term future amid ongoing climate challenges.