Narayanganj buyers, sellers happy over cattle sale on weight

Weight-based sales of sacrificial animals ahead of Eid-ul-Azha has become popular in Narayanganj. For the first time, cattle sale on weight commenced in Sadar, Bandar, and Fotullah upazilas in the district.

Cattle that have been fattened with hay, grass and other fodder are in high demand on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha. Both the sellers and the buyers are happy with the selling and buying of these cattle on weight.

Nushaiba, proprietor of Deshi Agro Farm in Fatullah, said that almost 55 cattle have been fattened in her farm this year. In her farm, small and large bulls are being sold at Tk 380-390 and Tk 400-450 per kg, respectively.

She said, there was no chance of getting cheated in the weight-based sale, as the buyer can have a general idea regarding how much meat he can get from the cattle he/she is buying.

Usually, the quantity of meat in this particular process of buying and selling of cattle is calculated by subtracting 40 percent from the total weight of the weighted animal.

Apart from the Deshi Agro Farm, the weight-based sale of cattle by other farms such as Nabila Agro Farm, Maria Agro, RK Agro, and Jakir Farm have also been popular in Narayanganj; these farms are crowded with buyers every day.

Abdul Hai Milon, who visited Nabila Agro Farm as a buyer, said that there are lots of hassle with buying cattle from a makeshift cattle market. Moreover, in this conventional way of buying cattle; it is difficult to know what has been fed to the animal.

He said, “There is little chance of being cheated, in case someone buys a cattle from a farm; for, he or she can form a general idea concerning the quantity of meat he/she can get from the animal.” “I can choose a bull according to my needs, when I am buying from a firm. Besides, I can buy a disease and steroid free cattle from a firm,” he added.

Sofia Begum, another customer at Moriom Agro, said that her husband lived abroad; thereby, it’s quite troublesome for her to go to a cattle market.

“One is obliged to roam around and haggle to buy a cattle from a haat. Buying from a farm is free of these troubles.”

Mufti Sirajul Islam Monir, Khatib of Fakir Tola Mosque of Narayanganj district, said that Islam doesn’t forbid buying sacrificial animals on weight. In the past, chickens, eggs, bananas, ducks etc. were sold by counting. Now, these are sold on weight.

Bashona Akhter, district livestock officer, said that there would be no shortage of cattle for Eid-ul-Azha this year.

She said that the cattle in the farms within the district have been fattened naturally. There are more than 50,000 cattle heads in almost 2200 farms in the district.