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Saudi Arabia's national electricity company has urged Muslims not to use electricity pylons for the mass slaughter of cattle and other livestock during Eid al-Adha celebrations.

Eid, which begins on Thursday, traditionally sees the sacrifice of goats, cattle, sheep and camels with a quantity of the meat given to the poor.

With tens thousands of livestock expected to be slaughtered in the Muslim kingdom over the coming days, the Saudi Electricity Company has warned the public against taking any shortcuts when butchering the animals.

"High-voltage towers and equipment" must not be used for the "improvised sacrificial slaughter" of animals, the utility company told the public.

It added that the practice is dangerous and unhygenic, and violators of the ban will be punished.

Special squads of inspectors have been set up to scour the country for any acts of indiscriminate butchery with electricity during the 16 days of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Eid al-Adha is known as the "sacrifice festival" and a time Muslims remember the willingness of Abraham (Ibrahim) to sacrifice his son Ishmael following a command from God.

God replaced a sheep with his son after Ibrahim proved his faith, leading to the tradition of slaughtering animals on the festival.