The Ministry of Agriculture's plans to sell saiga meat at a price of 1,600 tenge per kilogram have sparked debate not only regarding religious norms but also about serious risks to consumer health.
According to Nege.kz, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan (SAMK) explained that the meat of an animal is considered permissible (halal) if it is slaughtered in accordance with established rules.
"Who should say 'bismillah'? It should be a person who understands its meaning - a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew. Why them specifically? Because these religions recognise scriptures sent down from heaven. If an animal is slaughtered by one of them with the utterance of 'bismillah', the meat is considered permissible. But if an animal is killed by an atheist or a person worshipping fire, water, or idols, such meat is considered forbidden," explained Imam Nurlan.
Hunter Batyr Seikenov, known for his controversial statements about hunting wild animals, also believes that saiga meat can and should be eaten.
"From time immemorial, our ancestors ate saiga meat. Saiga meat is pure and healthy. Because domestic livestock depends on humans. They eat whatever they are given. They drink whatever water they are given. <…> Someone might say: 'Domestic livestock also eat grass.' However, saigas eat various grasses that livestock in pens do not eat. Therefore, to those who say saiga meat is haram, I want to say: let them know this," the statement reads.
However, agricultural expert Kirill Pavlov presented convincing arguments in his Telegram channel regarding which infectious diseases and parasites can be transmitted to humans after consuming the meat of wild antelopes.
According to him, people risk contracting brucellosis, worms, and other intestinal parasites that are transmitted through the meat of wild hoofed animals.
"Saigas do not undergo veterinary control (although, given the level of our veterinary service, that wouldn't save them either) - it is a wild animal. No one knows if it was ill, where it fed, or through which zones it migrated. One thing is known for certain - they have not received any vaccines," the statement reads.
Furthermore, Pavlov detailed the risks of consuming saiga meat, drawing on data from maps of natural foci of zoonotic infections and technogenic pollution. He noted that saigas often move across the steppe, which contains a significant number of burial sites and hazardous areas.
In this regard, saigas can be carriers of serious diseases such as anthrax, echinococcosis, tularemia, and plague.
"The 'Distribution of Natural Radioactive Objects' map shows that saigas migrate through territories with radioactive sources and former military test sites (Ustyurt, Baikonur zone). Migration routes also intersect with fields where residues of DDT and diazinon are exceeded, and where the animals graze. Before slaughter, dangerous heavy metals and organochlorine compounds accumulate in the muscles," the statement reads.
He also noted that there is no traceability system for such meat.
"You will never know where it came from, who shot the animal, when, or where, or whether anyone checked the meat at all. Saiga meat is only outwardly a 'cheap alternative to beef'. In reality, it is a lottery. You can 'win' a set of diseases for years to come," the expert summarised.
Given the critical state of the saiga population and the serious risks to human health, the question of the feasibility of commercially selling the meat of these animals remains open.