Only a day remains before the Eid of sacrifice, and markets were crowded with buyers at the last minute. Sales of smaller cows, especially those priced Tk 80,000 to Tk 1.2 lakh, have begun. But there are practically no buyers for big cows.

That was the picture at the Gabtoli cattle market on Saturday.

Big cows have been kept in rows at several spots right next to the main toll (hasil) booth, but no buyers were gathering around them.

Liton Gazi has brought four big cows to the market from Munshiganj Sadar, asking Tk 5–6 lakh for each. The cows would yield 16–18 maunds of meat.

Farmer Liton Gazi said: "I paid Tk 15,000 to transport the four cows and another Tk 14,000 to the market lessee. In all I have spent Tk 30,000. But nobody even names a price. I think I'll have to pay Tk 15,000 again to take the cows back home."

"With feed prices what they are, customers don't offer even half of what I've spent over three years," he added.

A five-minute walk from Liton Gazi's spot, Shakhawat Hossain sat looking glum. He has brought 25 cows from Gazipur, asking Tk 6–8 lakh for each.

"Three days have gone by and nobody names a price," Shakhawat said.

Shahin Mia came from the Bashundhara area. "I want to buy two deshi cows for Tk 1.20–1.25 lakh. Deshi, medium-sized cows have always been my preference," he said.

Sharif Bepari of Chapainawabganj brought 55 medium cows to the market and said he had sold 30 at a profit of Tk 4,000–5,000 per cow.

As the day wore on, the crowd of buyers at the market grew.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.