Selling Livestock by Weight in Saudi Arabia (1447 AH): Rules
Since 1 Muharram 1447 AH, Saudi slaughter livestock is sold by weight on approved scales with an invoice. The rules, and how to prepare your herd's weights.
From 1 Muharram 1447 AH, livestock prepared for slaughter in pens and public markets in Saudi Arabia must be sold by weight on approved scales with a weight display, automatic electronic recording and an invoice showing the animal type, weight in kilograms and price. The buyer may ask for re-weighing, and ministry inspectors can suspend any non-compliant scale.
This shifts pricing from "eye and experience" to "price per kilo". The breeder who knows the weight of every head before reaching the market is best placed to choose when to sell and to know the real profit.
What do the sale-by-weight rules say?
Okaz and Al-Watan published the details of the rules announced by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA). The main points:
| Item | What the rules say, as published |
|---|---|
| Start date | 1 Muharram 1447 AH |
| Scope | Livestock prepared for slaughter inside pens and in public markets |
| Scale | Approved, calibrated scale with a weight display |
| Recording | Automatic electronic recording of each weighing (date, animal type, weight) |
| Invoice | Shows animal type, weight in kg and price |
| Transparency | Weighing visible to seller and buyer; buyer may request re-weighing |
| Who provides scales | Pen operators and market investors must provide enough scales |
| Staff | Workers must be trained to operate the scales |
| Oversight | MEWA inspectors can stop any scale until it is verified; tampering is prohibited |
An earlier Okaz report noted that the aim is fair value for producers and consumers and better-organised markets. Before any large deal, check the latest updates on the MEWA website.
What does this mean for breeders?
In traditional selling, price comes down to bargaining and visual judgement. With sale by weight, the first question is: how many kilos? That has three practical consequences:
- A heavy, well-finished animal gets its due, while an animal that only looks big because of wool or frame fools no one.
- Timing becomes a calculation. If an animal gains weight at a cost below the price per kilo, keeping it two more weeks may pay. If it has stopped gaining, every extra day is a loss.
- Without weights you sell blind. You cannot tell whether the offered price is fair, or what you actually earned after feed and treatment.
How to prepare your herd for selling by weight
1. Weigh regularly, not once
A single weighing before market is not enough. Each head should have a weight history: at birth, at weaning, at the start of fattening, then about every two weeks during fattening. From it you calculate average daily gain and see which animals respond to feeding and which do not. Our 90-day lamb fattening plan and our article on feed conversion ratio explain this in detail.
2. Know your own cost per kilo
The market quotes per kilo, so calculate per kilo too: what the animal cost you in purchase, feed, treatment and labour, divided by its current weight. That gives you the floor price you should not sell below. See how to calculate cost per head and how to price livestock for sale.
3. Sort before market
Group the animals for sale into similar weight bands. A uniform batch is easier to sell and gives a clear picture of the expected return.
4. Mind weighing-day conditions
Weight depends on what is in the rumen. Do not try to "fill" animals before weighing; it damages your reputation and goes against the spirit of the rules. Equally, avoid trucking animals long distances in the heat without water: weight loss and stress are real losses.
5. Keep the invoice and compare it with your records
The invoice shows weight and price. Compare the market weight with the last weight you recorded on the farm. A large gap points to a transport, fasting or scale problem, and you are entitled to ask for re-weighing.
Smart scale and Throf: weight records without typing
On a farm weighing day, most time is lost reading the animal's number and writing the weight down, and that is where most errors happen too. With a smart scale that reads the animal's RFID ear tag, the weight is sent straight to Throf and saved in that animal's weight history automatically, with no typing.
The result: every head has a clear weight curve, with cost per head, expenses and sales in the same place. Before market you know which animals are ready and which need more time, and you record each sale with its weight and price as it happens. To choose a scale, read our livestock scale buying guide; for typical weights, see sheep weight by breed and age.
| What you need at market | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Current weight of each head | The latest weighing in the animal's file |
| Average daily gain | Difference between weighings divided by days |
| Cost per head | Expenses allocated to the animal |
| Minimum price per kilo | Cost divided by weight |
| Proof of health history | Vaccination and treatment records |
Start today
Register your herd in Throf on the free plan for small herds, or subscribe and pay online for larger herds (coupon THROF15 for 15% off). To set up automatic weighing on your farm, request a quote for tags or a scale on WhatsApp.
FAQ
When did selling livestock by weight start in Saudi Arabia?
Sale by weight for slaughter livestock in pens and public markets applies from 1 Muharram 1447 AH, as announced by MEWA and reported in the Saudi press.
What scale is required in Saudi livestock markets?
As published, an approved and calibrated scale with a display that records weights electronically and automatically, and issues an invoice with animal type, weight in kg and price.
Can the buyer ask for the animal to be re-weighed?
Yes. The published rules say weighing must be visible to both parties and that the buyer may request re-weighing when needed.
Do I need a scale on my farm?
The rules cover pens and markets. A farm scale, however, tells you each animal's weight and cost per kilo before you sell, so you choose timing and price with confidence.
General guidance only — it does not replace your veterinarian or the competent authority in your country.
