As the locally bred cattle heads are now available in Rajshahi, cattle rearers in Rajshahi district have been meeting the demand for sacrificial cattle heads reared locally for the people of the district for the last five-year.
Every year for the last couple of years, now cattle heads reared locally remained in excess after meeting the yearly local demand and specially the demand during the holy Eid-ul-Azha. Even during this year's (2023) Eid-ul-Azha, more than 70,000 sacrificial cattle heads are likely to remain in excess after selling in the district. It is learnt, though there is only two weeks left before the Holy Eid-ul-Azha festival, the selling and bargaining of sacrificial animals in cattle markets of the district have not yet been geared up.
Meanwhile, aftermath of the Coronavirus crisis, the price of cattle heads and the beef increased abnormally in the district. Local cattle rearers linked the price increase to a huge and abnormal increase in cattle head fodders.
As a result, the price of cattle heads is likely to increase during the ensuing Eid-ul-Azha. There having excessive locally reared cattle heads in the markets this year, there is no necessity to import cattle heads for sacrificial purposes this year.
Golam Mostafa, a cattle rearer of village Tebaria under Paba upazila informed, there is a continuous increase in the price of fodder after the Coronavirus. The price of cattle feeds like straw, crop dust etc. has turned double during the last three-year.
At the same time, the price of electricity has also been increased. The prices of various drugs for the treatment of cattle heads have also been increased abnormally. Yet, by investing a huge amount of money, he has been rearing cattle heads targeting the markets before the Eid-ul-Azha. He hoped, with the increase of all necessary things related to cattle rearing, the price of cattle heads will also increase in the ensuing Eid markets.
Joynal Hossain of Dighi Parila village of Paba informed, he has been rearing several bulls for selling those in the markets before the Eid. He further said, like him, every household owner rears at least one bull and someone a goat for their own need during Eid. As a result, a silent revolution has been created in the field of cattle rearing in the district and the country is reaping its benefits. As a result, for the last five-year or more, sacrificial cattle heads are not required to import from India and neighbouring countries.
Nurul Amin of Mothura village of Paba informed, last year he purchased two young bulls at Taka 90, ooo( 40,000+50,000) and reared those. He is now hoping to sell these two bulls for Tk. 300,000 ( Tk. 150,000 each). He said, he has fattened those two bulls without using any hormones or drugs rather than feeding those with natural feeds.
Leasee of Rajshahi City Hat, the largest cattle market in the northern region of the country, Faruk Hossain Doublew said, there is a huge supply of locally bred cattle heads in the market and there is no necessity to import cattle heads from abroad this year.
According to the source of Rajshahi Animal Resources Dept. during the Eid-ul-Azha in 2022, a total of 324, 977 cattle heads were sacrificed in the Rajshahi district and target for the 2023 has been fixed the same as that of 2022.
He further informed, there are 400,000 sacrificial animals including bulls, buffaloes, goats and sheep ready for sale in various cattle markets of the district before the Eid-ul-Azha.
Dr Zulfiqur A Hossain, Animal Resource Officer, Rajshahi district, informed, more than 70,000 sacrificial cattle heads are likely to remain excessive this year after meeting the local demand, specially, during the Eid-ul-Azha in the district.
Shahim Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi informed, since there is more than sufficient supply of locally bred cattle heads in the district, there is not necessary to import cattle heads this year.