Cattle sales surge in city

The sale of sacrificial animals in the city's 21 cattle markets and elsewhere increased on Friday as traders and farmers reduced prices hoping to woo buyers.

Although sales rise to some extent, the traders are still waiting for the momentum to come.

"I sold four oxen out of my 23 animals by Friday afternoon, whereas only one was retailed in the past three days," says trader Jakaria at Basila temporary cattle market.

The poor presence of purchasers has forced cattle-rearers and traders to cut prices notably, he adds.

Mr Jakaria further says that most of the traders can hardly make 10-per cent profit out of their business.

Humayun Kabir, a garment buying-house official, bought a sacrificial animal weighing 160 kilogram at Tk 0.11 million.

Despite a decrease in cattle prices, he says, it is still much higher than that of last year's.

Farid Hossain, a cattle-rearer from Pangsha of Rajbari district, brought 18 oxen and three cows to Gabtoli.

He says most of his oxen weigh close to 200-220kg.

"My minimum expenditure is Tk 0.15 million per animal, but customers offer below his investment. I could sell only two cows and two oxen on Friday at minimal profits."

Mr Hossain might take home his rest of animals if he does to get some profit.

Gabtoli permanent cattle market manager Abdul Hashem says sales increased since Friday noon.

"We are expecting that the trading might increase notably on Saturday morning," he anticipates.

But Md Mursalin, a management committee member at Jhigatola cattle market, says total sales may decrease this year amid a tough economic condition of middle- and low middle-income people.

"Sales may not reach the level of the previous years," he apprehends.

Cattle sale officially began on Wednesday at 19 makeshift markets leased out by two city corporations.

Apart from these provisional ones, sales earlier began at two permanent markets-Gabtoli and Sharulia.

Farmers say cattle-rearing costs have increased by 40-50 per cent this year amid a surge in prices of ready-made feed, straw, oil cake, wheat bran, other ingredients and transport costs.

The Department of Livestock Services has a target for trading 9.7-million cattle across the country this Eid-ul-Azha, which is due for July 10.

More than 12.1-million cattle are available in the market, it reveals.

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