Photo: BSS

SHERPUR, May 24, 2026 (BSS)- Farmers across the district are busy caring for and fattening sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, with around 92,000 animals prepared in the district for sale this year.

To ensure the animals remain healthy during the extreme summer heat, the district administration and the Department of Livestock have deployed veterinary medical teams at every cattle market in the district.

Officials said the initiative aims to protect farmers- both large and small- from financial losses caused by animal illness. Law enforcement agencies are also working to ensure the safety of buyers and sellers while preventing fraud and the circulation of counterfeit currency at markets.

According to the District Livestock Department, farmers are naturally fattening animals using green grass, vine leaves, hay, husk, straw, corn, and other healthy local feed instead of harmful substances. Farmers are also ensuring regular bathing, clean farm environments, and proper ventilation to keep animals healthy.

This year, along with local breeds, farmers are rearing Shahiwal, Friesian, and Brahma cattle using natural feeding methods. Multiple monitoring teams from the livestock department are currently working in the field to prevent the use of harmful drugs for cattle fattening.

Officials said the demand for sacrificial animals in Sherpur’s five upazilas stands at 63,740 this year. After meeting local demand, the district is expected to have a surplus of nearly 28,000 animals, which will be supplied to other districts.

Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, 20 cattle markets will be set up in the district, where 18 mobile veterinary teams will provide treatment and health check up facilities for sick or dead animals.

Mukul Ahmed, an official of Jihan Dairy Farm in Lachmanpur union under Sherpur Sadar, said high feed prices have increased production costs of cattle this year. However, he expressed hope that farmers would still make a profit if fair market prices are maintained. 

He also said that restricting the entry of Indian cattle could increase demand and prices for locally raised animals.

Farmer Shahidul Islam from Kamar Char said buyers and traders have already begun visiting farms to inspect cows and goats before Eid. Many customers are choosing to purchase animals directly from farms to avoid overcrowded markets.

Zafar Ali, a worker at Elias Cattle Farm under Sherpur Municipality, said the cattle were raised with great care and fed only natural food such as grass, corn, khoil, and sorghum without the use of medicines or harmful substances.

Sherpur Additional Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman Bhuiyan said police would maintain intelligence surveillance at every cattle market to prevent the circulation of fake currency and ensure proper market management.

 Special monitoring has also been arranged along border areas to stop the illegal entry of sacrificial animals into the district.

Additional District Livestock Officer Dr. Mohammad Fazlul Haque said veterinary teams are working in every upazila to ensure healthy and safe animals at sacrificial markets.

 He added that awareness campaigns are also being conducted to discourage the use of harmful drugs to rear animals.