There will be no crisis of sacrificial animals, and the cattle markets would not face any crunch for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha in Chittagong this year, livestock officials, and traders opined.
According to the district livestock office, around 6,10,000 heads of cattle are currently available for Eid sacrifice purposes.
Of them, 4,14,000 cows, 1,47,000 goats and sheep, and 46,000 buffaloes are in stock at different farms of Chittagong. Last year, 6,55,000 cattle were sacrificed in the district.
According to district livestock office, 1,50,000-2,00,000 cattle which come to Chittagong from different parts of the country will fill the shortfall.
While speaking to the Dhaka Tribune, livestock officer of Chittagong Dr Md Reajul Huq, assured that the local demand for sacrificial animals could easily be met as there is an adequate supply from domestic sources.
"Many people have inclined towards rearing cows due to its high demand, especially during Eid-ul-Azha. Many marginal farmers have become self-reliant by rearing cows," said the livestock officer.
Agreeing with the livestock official, Md Shafiqur Rahman, president of Chittagong Cattle Cooperative Association Ltd also said that the district cattle markets would not witness any supply crisis.
Animals to arrive from next week
“Sacrificial animals will begin to arrive in the next few days. Local cows are in huge demand, cattle reared in different farms of Chittagong fulfill 30% of the demand, while the rest is procured from other districts like Bogra, Kushtia, Jessore, Faridpur, and Chapainawabganj,” he said, adding that the recent flood would not have any impact on the supply.
There are more than 300 cattle farms in Chittagong, also cattle are raised by individual farmers, particularly for Eid-ul-Azha, sources in the livestock office said.
Around 47 veterinary teams headed by a veterinary surgeon, each comprising of three to five members would be deployed in 200 cattle markets of the district, including 40 permanent ones.
Livestock officer Dr Md Reajul Huq told the Dhaka Tribune that the veterinary medical teams would check the health of cattle, provide emergency treatment, inspect if the cattle are fit for sacrificing, and detect whether those have been fattened artificially, through the conventional symptom-based methods.
“There will be more than one medical team in the permanent cattle markets. Besides, a mobile veterinary clinic will provide service in the port city,” said the livestock officer.
Steroid-fattened cattle
Some dishonest, and profit-hungry cattle traders bring steroid-fattened cattle for sale at the time of Eid-ul-Azha.
Use of hormones, and steroids for fattening cattle is banned, according to the Animal Disease Control Act, 2010.
The Act has set at least two years imprisonment, or a fine amounting to Tk50,000, or both for those involved in the offence.
“Such cattle can be easily identified. Artificially fattened cattle carry some telltale signs. Healthy cattle appears vigorous, while an artificially fattened cow will move slowly, and appear lethargic, it will also show symptoms of respiratory problems,” said the livestock officer.
Dr Azizur Rahman Siddiqui, Civil Surgeon of Chittagong told the Dhaka Tribune that the consumption of artificially fattened cattle poses a serious health hazard.
