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CHATTOGRAM, May 23, 2025 (BSS) - A total of 8,60,288 sacrificial animals are available in the district for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha this year with shortage of around 39,000 animals to meet up the demand.

The shortage will not affect the market as traders usually bring animals for selling from neighboring districts considering the high profit and demands here.  

Mentioning that Chattogram division was never self-sufficient in cattle production Dr. Md. Alamgir, District Livestock Officer said, “We had forecast slight deficit in supply and demand but it will not have much impact as animals from other districts have started pouring into the Eid ul Azha cattle market.” 

According to the District Livestock Department, 14,258 small and big farms have prepared their cattle for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha in 15 upazilas of the district.

Many temporary farms were set up in different upazila where more animals were reared for Eid-ul-Azha. However, high cost led to decrease the production, causing increase the price of sacrificial animal this year.

Cows of various foreign breeds including Nepalese, Australian, Fijian and Haryana have been raised in the district. There will have a large quantity of cattle in the supply line reared by marginalized farmers in their homestead to sell in the Eid market. 

Shamsul Alam, a farmer of Banskhali upazila said cattle are being raised in most of the rural houses as they find it as an opportunity to earn from Eid market.   Dairy farming is playing major role in the socio-economic development of the rural people.

Shamsul said he has 38 cows in his farm this year which was 46 last year. Due to high food price, the number of cows in the farm has decreased this year. 

Saidul Hoque, owner of a farm in Rangunia upazila said he has prepared 53 cows and 15 goats with the hope of making a good profit.

Abdur Rahim, owner of a firm in Patiya upazila said he will sell his cattle online like last two years. He has invested a lot of money to raise the cattle. 

Saiful Alam, a marginal farm owner in Karoldanga village under Boalkhali upazila said he has fattened 25 cows at a huge cost and is expecting to make a good profit.

However, several farm owners have negative apprehension about the animal market this year because of high price.

Md Jaber, a cattle trader in Satkhania upazila, said the price of cattle and goats is higher this year compared to last year.

Iqbal Hossain, President of Chattogram Divisional Dairy Farm Association said there is a sufficient amount of cows and buffaloes for Eid-ul-Azha this year. 

He said there will be no need to import animals and there should have strict measures to check influx of smuggled animals in the market.