Although cattle prices ritually climb every year in advance of Eidul Azha, this year’s pandemic-induced economic slump has given sellers enough reasons to hike their prices beyond the usual markup. Therein, particular breeds of livestock which are allegedly raised on a king’s diet and groomed with a similar luxury, especially for sacrifice, have been priced at the steepest rate.
According to local trends, the Fateh Jhangi breed of white cattle has a special market in the twin cities. These glorious looking bulls which can weigh up to 400 kilograms, are popular for their lush coat and balletic way of walking which makes them a sight to behold. In the current market, such a variety of cattle can cost around Rs200,000 for a four mound bull, whereas prices can also go higher depending on the animal’s size and its visual appeal. “There’s no doubt that these are expensive animals, but they are said to be raised on a special diet. Other than that, they also have a rich coat and produce higher quality of meat. People want to sacrifice the best of animals in the way of Allah, and for that these bulls are the obvious choice for anyone who can afford,” said Chaudhry Ejaz Bashir, a cattle enthusiast who had come to inspect the market. Other breeds of cattle popular in Islamabad and Rawalpindi’s livestock markets include the Tilla King, Domelli, and Hasan Abdal, which are also among special varieties raised and reared for sacrifice. However, be it these special verities or the local breed, the livestock industry like many others has also taken a great hit from the past few months of the coronavirus-induced lockdown. The situation has thus led seller to increase their prices manifolds in order to make some profit to cover the losses they have incurred during the said period. “Rates in the entire market are quite extortionate. While luxurious show breeds like the Fateh Jhangi are unsurprisingly worth a king’s ransom, even an averagely sized bull is being sold for over Rs100,000 here,” commented an irked buyer at the cattle market.
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On the other hand, according to Karam Bux, a livestock dealer, raising these animals requires at least a year’s worth of hard work and labour, which sellers expect to get a profit on upon sale during Eidul Azha season. “I raise over 40-50 Fateh Jhangi bulls every season. My animals are fed a luxurious diet of milk, butter and fruits along with the regular fodder and I do everything to take care of their coat and keep them healthy. So when sellers like me take their animals to the market, we charge for the amount of time, energy and money put into raising them,” Bux told The Express Tribune. “Undoubtedly, the prices are much higher this year but conditions have also been more difficult due to coronavirus and we have to invest more into these animals. However, many buyers know this and are ready to spend as much as they can to get the best animal to sacrifice in the name of god,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2020.
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