Cattle prices higher this year
OUR CORRESPONDENTS | Thursday, 6 June 2024
The prices of animal feed, including husk, cattle booster and wheat, have increased sharply in the past few years due on different pretexts, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the dollar crisis, which has increased the animal rearing costs. Many farmers of Rajshahi, Chandpur and Pabna districts are reportedly fattening their cows to sell them ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Our Rajshahi Correspondent reports, June 05: Over 0.45 million (4.5 lakh) animals have been ready for sacrifice in the district on the occasion of holy Eid-ul-Azha, but their prices are higher than last year.
Farmers say they have reared 141,219 more animals against the demand in the district.
According to the Department of Livestock, 466,196 animals are ready for sacrifice in Rajshahi this year. These animals have been reared in 17,500 farms and different homes in the district.
Among them, 83,365 cows, 3,769 buffaloes and 342,753 goats. Last year 324,977 animals were sacrificed in the district. This time too there is a demand for this number of sacrificial animals.
As a result, there is currently more than 141,219 sacrificial animals compared to the demand in the district.
However, the farmers are worried about getting their expected prices of the animals due to the increases in the rearing costs due to the high prices of cattle feed.
A young entrepreneur, Zahidul Islam Zahid, started the journey of Shahi Organic Farm with 10-15 cows in Harian Ronhat area of Paba Upazila.
"Now the price of cattle feed is two to three times higher than what it was 4-5 years ago. As a result, the prices of sacrificial animals will be higher this time."
"If the expected price is not received, the farmers will have to suffer a loss," he added.
Sajdur Rahman, a farmer of Bagha Upazila, said, "Every year we rear 20-25 cows. This time, 22 sacrificial cows are being prepared. But, I am not selling until I get the expected price."
Ainal Haque, a cow trader, said, "There is more demand for home-raised cows than farm cows. But, this time they are asking for a much higher price. As a result, animals have to be bought at a higher price than in previous years.
Rezaul Islam, a cattle feeder seller in Rajshahi, said that the price of cattle feeder is increasing every month. Currently, the price of a sack of wheat husk is Tk 3,500 to 4,000. Apart from this, the price of all kinds of cattle feed, including khail, has increased by 60 to 70 percent.
Again, each bag of 25 kg of granular cattle feed (supplement) of various companies is being sold at Tk 2,000 to Tk 2,500. Apart from this, prices of everything including maize bran, rice flour (Khud), anchor husk, lentil husk, mustard seeds have gone up several times.
City Market is the biggest pashuhat in Rajshahi. Atiqur Rahman Kalu, the lessee of this market, said City Animal Market sits on Sundays and Wednesdays during the week.
But, the sales of sacrificial animals have not yet accumulated. It is expected that the market will start gathering after a week.
Dr Zulfikar Md Akhtar Hossain, a livestock officer in Rajshahi district, said, "The demand for sacrificial animals has not increased in Rajshahi compared to last time. According to the database, about 1.5 lakh more animals have been reared than demand, which will meet the need of the whole country."
He also said that the price of everything has increased now. As a result, the cost of rearing animals has also increased. Therefore, it is natural that the price of animals will increase this time.
Our Correspondent from Chandpur says, there are as many as 61,486 sacrificial animals in 3,269 farms in Chandpur district although there is a serious demand for about 80,000 sacrificial animals/ heads of cattle all over the district.
This was disclosed by district livestock officer Dr Jyotirmoy Bhowmik in his office.
He said there will be no shortage of sacrificial animals at all for Eid-ul-Azha in the district.
In addition, there are around 500 seasonal animal traders who are importing sacrificial animals from Chuadanga, Faridpur, and other places by trucks and are selling them in different markets.
Farm owners Pervin Islam and her spouse Tajul Islam of Shah Mahmudpur area in Chandpur Sadar have told the FE they have an animal farm on 1.5 acres of land where there are 64 cattle in various sizes.
During this correspondent's recent visit to Safarmali Cattle Market recently, this correspondent saw boom selling and buying of sacrificial animals at reasonable prices.
Buyers say the prices of the locally-reared cows and bulls are higher this year than last year's. It will affect their budget.
Our Correspondent from Pabna adds, sacrificial animals are being reared in these farms based entirely on indigenous food. More than 0.6 million sacrificial animals are ready for Eid-ul-Azha.
Farmers, buyers and traders are already busy buying and selling animals. Farmers and traders are eyeing to make huge profits if the market price remains high.
According to the district livestock office, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha, 634,414 animals have been prepared in nine upazilas of the district.
There is a demand for 312,826 sacrificial animals in the district, but there are 312,826 surplus animals compared to the demand.
Going to the field and talking to different farmers, it is known that the price of cow feed has increased several times. The sacrificial animal food list includes hay, husk, hay, green grass, silencer of maize plant, chickpea and natural food.
Md Hadsha Mia, owner of Hadsha Dairy Farm of Boprakhali village under Sadar Upazila, said, "We've been selling cows naturally for about three years with good reputation."
He said about 36 sacrificial bulls of different breeds, including Australian, Jersey, Friesian and Brahma, have been reared with the price of each cow ranges from minimum Tk 0.3 million (3 lakh) to maximum Tk 0.8 million (8 lakhs).
He said every day buyers from different places are visiting his farm to buy animals. All these cows are in great demand in Dhaka.
Pabna District Livestock Officer Gaurang Kumar Talukdar told The Financial Express that over 6.34 cattle farmers are rearing in the district this year. This year, the demand is 312,826.
Accordingly, 321,588 extra animals will go to other parts of the country, he said, adding: "We regularly meet the farmers and sensitize them. We give the animals timely vitamins and vaccines."
He also said that veterinary medical teams would remain present at cow markets.