Various experts and cattle breeders believe that butchers are responsible for the recent rise in meat prices. On top of this, Egypt has lost nearly 900,000 cattle due to the import of sick cattle from abroad, said Saad el-Hayany, president of the Cattle Breeder Union. However, 75 percent of the rise in prices is due to the butchers desire to make additional profits.
The farmer or breeder receives 20 percent of the profit when he breeds cattle for a period of 12 to 15 months. However, the butcher earns LE15 in only five days.
