Cattle prices to increase over 10pc this Eid

Industry Desk: Cattle prices will increase this year by more than 10% in the run-up to upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, despite Bangladesh having a stock of 12.5 million cattle for sale.
Fisheries and Livestock secretary Dr Nahid Rashid said this during a cattle farm visit at Mohammadpur-Beribadh in the capital on Saturday.
The secretary said local farmers and farms are ready with approximately 12.5 million animals suitable for sacrifice against 12.1 million in 2022.
She gave the information while visiting Sadeeq Agro Ltd after inspecting various other farms in the area on the day.
Rashid said there would be no need to import any animals.
“To protect local farmers; we have increased surveillance in the border areas against any smuggling of cattle.”
About any unnecessary harassment of farmers and buyers from various parts of the country before the Eid, Dr Rashid said the National Emergency Service hotline number-999 would remain active. She also mentioned: “There is a hotline number available to report any discrepancies, we would finalize it in the inter-ministerial meeting scheduled for June 14.”
Director General of the Department of Livestock Services Dr Md Emdadul Haque Talukder said that they had already been able to reduce the price of animal feed to some extent.
As the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BDFA) made a request to ensure hassle-free movement of purchased animals from cattle farms, the ministry said it would issue a gazette in this regard, if needed.
BDFA President Imran Hossain said prices of animals might increase by 10-12% amid a surge in feed prices by more than 60% in a year.
“We want assurance from the government that people could get animals from the farms hassle-free,” he pleaded.
Hossain, also owner of Sadeeq Agro, said he targeted sale of 1,900 cows and buffalos and 600 goats and sheep this year.
Those, who will purchase animals weighing less than 400 kg, could buy them at Tk500 a kg while the delivery will be free of charge, he said.