Cattle supply ample in mkts but sales still low

Cattle markets in Cox's Bazar, Magura, Khulna and Gaibandha districts have witnessed arrival of a substantial number of sacrificial animals with only four days left for the Eid-ul-Azha but sale is yet to get momentum as the buyers are mostly seeing the prices beyond their reach.
In the markets of Cox's Bazar, cattle have appeared in a large number but buyers are not showing so much interest as the prices demanded seem to be too high to them.
According to the Cox's Bazar District Livestock Office, 1,96,687 sacrificial animals are ready for sale in the district's markets this Eid, which is 21,673 more than the total demand of 175,014.
Among them, 100,489 are cows, 5,105 buffaloes, 8,417 goats and 10,676 sheep.
Some big chunks of supplies have come from the cattle fattening farms and general farmers in the district as well.
Tarek Mahmood Roni, owner of Hnila Agro Farm in Teknaf, said this year a large number of animals have been raised in his farm targeting the Eid.
Small, medium and large-sized animals are on sale from their stock. Their farm
is exhibiting and selling animals next to the HnilaNaf Filling Station.
A customer named Juhur Alam at Kharulia Bazar cattle market, a large market in Cox's Bazar, said, "Prices seem a little bit cheaper this year. I've bought two cows as the prices seemed to be suitable to me."
District Livestock Officer Dr Mohammad Sahab Uddin said Cox's Bazar has more animals for sacrifice this year than last year. It will be possible to send animals to different neighbouring districts after meeting the demand, he added.
There was campaign to prevent application of chemicals to livestock this year, the official said, adding this year also medical teams will be working in the cattle markets.
In Magura, traders have brought sacrificial animals in all the 18 cattle markets of the district for sale four days ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha.
Besides, cow fatteners have also brought a huge number of cattle for Eid sale in the markets.
Sources said the number of animals the local farms have fattened this year targeting the Eid is surplus to the demand.
District livestock office sources said 92,891 cattle were fattened in the district for the festival this year which is against the total demand of 69,668, meaning 23,223 cows will remain surplus.
Farmers' sources said due to price hike of fodder cow fattening cost has risen remarkably.
Grass per bundle (10 kg) is being sold in the local markets at Tk40 against Tk30 last year while oil cake ( khoil ) at Tk50 per kg against Tk40 last year and bran at Tk50 per kg against Tk 40 last year.
Chandu Biswas, a cattle fattener of Kanda Bashkutha village in Magura sadar upazila, said, "I've fattened three cows to sell in Eid market. My expense has stood at Tk3 lakh. But customers and traders are offering Tk270,000 to 280,000 for the three cattle. The offered price will not cover the production cost."
In Khulna, district administration and Khulna City Corporation (KCC) have set up a total of 34 cattle markets in the district. Traders have already started bringing sacrificial animals to the markets.
Closed circuit cameras (CCTVs cameras) and fake currency detection machines have been installed at the markets, along with tight security measures taken for buyers as well as sellers, said LaskarTazul Islam, chief executive officer of KCC.
While talking to this correspondent, Aktatruzzaman, a cattle farm owner in Shailmari village under Terokhada upazila, said, the price of cattle feed has increased several times. As a result, cattle prices will be higher than last year.
Livestock office sources said that the demand for sacrificial animals in Khulna division this year stands at 8,29,568 but farmers reared 11,82,998 animals targeting Eid, 37.88 per cent more than the demand.
In Gaibandha, Indian cows have not appeared in the markets yet and cattle trading is yet to gain momentum.
Owners of upscale cattle farms are unhappy not getting the expected prices.
In each of the markets, medical team of the district animal husbandry and members of the law enforcement agencies are working for security.
On the occasion of Eid, there have been set up 26 permanent animal haats, 15 temporary or seasonal haats, and eight online haats in seven upazilas of the district.
Livestock officer of Gaibandha Sadar Upazila Tarun Kumar Datta said 25,350 animals have been kept ready for sale in the upazila this time.
Sadar upazila has four permanent cattle markets including Dariapur, Lakshipur, Badiakhali, Old Badiakhali and five temporary markets including at Modern School adjacent to Bridge Road.

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