Omani goat sold for record 2,500 riyals in Barka auction, sparks social media buzz

Muscat: An Omani national sold a goat for an unprecedented 2,500 riyals (Dh23,850) at an auction in the wilayat of Barka on Friday, sparking a buzz on social media.

Images and videos of the goat, along with a cheque sealing the deal, quickly spread across various platforms. Experts in goat trading noted that the animal possessed unique features and belonged to a rare breed.

However, many questioned the buyer’s decision to pay such a high price, calling it sheer extravagance, as the typical maximum price for such a goat does not exceed 200 riyals.

Bloggers, tweeters and other commentators in the social media were surprised over the astronomical price.

“In light of the tough economic conditions as many are suffering, from such practices that arouses resentment and anger appear from time to time. These people have also to consider poor and needy ones ,” said one commentator on X platform.

“Such practices reveal a huge gap between the classes of the society and it increases the feelings of the frustration among the poor who suffer from the skyrocketing living prices and hardship ,” said another.

Livestock represents an important source of income for many owners and breeders of livestock, and an economic tributary that contributes to the continuation and growth of food security in the Sultanate of Oman.

There are nine types of local breeds of goats were monitored in Oman, including 5 breeds of Jebel Akhdar goats, Al Batinah goats, Jabali goats, desert goats, Musandam desert goats and Dhofari goats, in addition to the sheep breed, which are two breeds in the north Al Batinah and Dhofar Governorate.

-- Fahad Al Mukrashi is a freelance journalist based in Muscat