RAJSHAHI, July 26, 2019 (BSS) – Cattle markets in the city and its
adjacent areas have started getting vibrant with numerous buyers and hundreds
of sacrificial animals ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha, the second largest religious
festival for the Muslims.
Large numbers of sacrificial animals are being brought for sale at
different cattle markets like City Haat, Naohata Haat, Baneswar Haat, Keshor
Haat, Kanthakhali Haat, Rajabari Haat, Kakonhat, Mohisalbari Haat and
Machmoil Haat.
This time, there is an abundant supply of locally reared cattle heads in
the City Haat, the largest cattle market in the northern region, said Atikur
Rahman Kalu, leaseholder of the haat.
He said beef fattening activities have been intensified everywhere in
the region as the villagers attain lucrative profit from the business. This
house to house beef fattening has started contributing a lot towards
improving living and livelihood condition of the grassroots population
through enriching animal resources.
The feature has brightened the prospects of exporting beef to different
areas within the country after meeting the local demands. Moreover, the
boosted native cattle production has started lessening the dependence on
cattle imported from the neighboring country.
In most of the cattle markets, the buyers were seen opting to purchase
native animals.
Rahman said the cattle traders at the haat were charging a middle-sized
bull at Tk 65,000 to Tk 75,000 weighing about three maunds at present.
He said a small bull was available at Tk 35,000 to Tk 46,000 while a
medium-size one is available at Tk 55,000 to Tk 75,000 while a large bull is
being sold at Tk 95,000 to Tk 1,15,000.
Divisional Deputy Director of Department of Livestock Services Kalyan
Kumar Fouzder told BSS that local animal husbandry sector has marked a
revolutionary boost in recent years bringing fortune to hundreds of people in
the region.
He said many of the rural families have been rearing and fattening bulls
commercially and earning huge profits every year. Some of the poor and
marginalized people including women have achieved tremendous successes in the
sector.
Currently, the cattle markets are witnessing a record supply of domestic
animals following huge boost in the local animal husbandry sector in recent
years.
Kolyan Fouzder termed the practice as a positive sign for sound public
health saying the department of livestock has been extending necessary
support towards the farmers in this regard.
“We are discouraging the businessmen and farmers using harmful medicines
including hormone and steroid to fatten cattle to make immediate profit by
selling fat animals for sacrifice,” he added.
Abdul Mannan, a bull fattening farm owner of Devipur village, said the
farmers have adopted new and improved practices and technologies in bull
rearing and fattening contributing to enhanced production and productivity.