Livestock markets in Naogaon have come alive ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. Every market is receiving large numbers of animals, buyers are finding cows they like within their means, and sellers are letting animals go once offers come close to their asking price. Demand, however, is higher for medium-sized cows than for big ones.

Mobile veterinary teams from the livestock office are working at the markets. Each team, which includes the upazila livestock officer and five to seven sub-assistant animal health officers, provides free health care and pregnancy tests for the animals, and people buying animals for sacrifice say they are benefiting.

Moynul Haque, who came to the weekly market at Gobarchapa in Badalgachhi upazila, said: "The cattle markets have started to fill up for the Qurbani. Eid is a few days away. People are buying cows of their choice, and prices are within reach. Medium-sized cows are selling most. The coming markets will see plenty of animals."

Hasan Ali, a cattle seller from Bhandarpur village, said: "A few days ago I bought a bull from a farmer's house for Tk 1 lakh 10 thousand. After bringing it to Gobarchapa market, buyers are offering Tk 80,000-90,000. The cattle market does not look very good. If this continues, many farmers will have to count losses."

A trader named Abdul Aziz said: "People do not want to buy big cows. Many have suffered financially in natural disasters, so there is more interest in medium and small cows at lower prices. But big traders are paying for large cows to take to Dhaka."

Joynal Hossain of Mathurapur village searched Gobarchapa market for a long time before buying a cow for Tk 35,000 for his own sacrifice. "After buying it I had doubts. Then I had it checked for free by the vet at the market and was relieved," he said. "People buy a heifer and find at home that it is pregnant. That has happened to many, and they could not sacrifice it on Eid day. They are checking not just for pregnancy but general health too. The mobile team at the market has made things easier for those giving Qurbani."

Badalgachhi upazila livestock officer Dr Md Nazmul Haque told Jago News that for the past two years, because of the coronavirus, few animals had come to the markets. This year a large number of animals have arrived and are selling. The upazila has two veterinary teams of five members each, which provide free health care and pregnancy tests, so that buyers can purchase healthy animals fit for sacrifice. Buyers are keen to have their animals checked, he said.

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