0.14m sacrificial animals ready in Gaibandha

OUR CORRESPONDENT
GAIBANDHA, May 18: As many as 145,381 animals have been kept ready in the district for sacrifice in the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
According to the Gaibandha Livestock Office, there are 63,246 cows, 147 buffaloes and 81,988 goats and sheep in the district for sacrifice.
This year, the demand for sacrificial animals in seven upazilas of the district has gone up to 123,051.
However, there are 22,330 animals more than the huge demand in the northern district.
Cattle farmers say they have already started selling the sacrificial animals online and offline.
Meanwhile, cattle farmers are facing troubles due to an abnormal increase in the prices of fodders. They, however, expect fair prices of their cattle as their rearing costs are high.
Tarun Kumar Datta, an animal resources officer in Gaibandha Sadar Upazila, said 25,350 sacrificial animals have been ready in the upazila this year. Among them, there are 7210 bulls, 415 oxen, 5,330 cows, 25 buffaloes, 10,850 goats, and 1,520 sheep.
"Cattle farmers have been warned not to use steroids to fatten sacrificial animals," he added.
As the animals suffer from various diseases, including heatstroke, due to the searing heatwave, farmers provide them with medical services, Mr Datta says.
Dr Mahfuzar Rahman, livestock officer in the district, said this time the demand for sacrificial animals in seven upazilas of the district is 123,051.
There are 16,759 cattle farms in the district where there are 145, 381 animals have been kept ready for sales.
Every effort is being made to ensure that cattle farmers get fair prices, he said, adding: "Our medical team is available round the clock to audit animal health test."
[email protected]