Local farmers in Sreenagar upazila are now busy raising cattle in preparation for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. As the festival approaches, they are spending more time and effort taking care of sacrificial animals.
Across all 14 unions of the upazila, commercial cattle farms have been set up in various homesteads as well as on elevated land beside roads. The Upazila Livestock Department is actively working to encourage cattle rearing. Currently, around 1,500 farms both small-scale and commercial are engaged in livestock farming in the upazila. These farms are mainly raising local and crossbred bulls for sacrifice. Last year, the demand for sacrificial animals in Sreenagar was recorded at 9,935, while the supply reached 10,175 indicating a surplus. A recent field visit shows that farmers are now giving extra care to cattle as part of their preparation for the Eid market. Many commercial farms have already started selling cattle online, while buyers are also visiting farms directly to select animals and negotiate prices. Farmers said they are feeding their cattle with fresh grass, dry straw, and chemical-free feed to ensure healthy growth. To keep the animals fit and disease-free, they are also maintaining regular contact with veterinary doctors from government livestock hospitals. Abdul Kayum Sheikh, owner of "Ivory Cattle Farm" located beside the Tuniamandra road in the Sreenagar-Bikrampur area, said that out of 70 bulls, 64 have already been sold. Bulls weighing below 500 kg are being sold at around Tk 550 per kg (live weight), while larger cattle above 500 kg are selling at about Tk 600 per kg. Sources say that cattle fattening has become a profitable business, prompting many low-income families to start small-scale farms at home with limited capital. Alongside men, women are also participating in livestock rearing from their homes. Many women are taking small loans from different NGOs and using the funds to raise sacrificial cattle as well as dairy cows. According to Upazila Livestock Officer Dr. Md. Kamrul Hasan, there are currently 1,110 small and large farms in the upazila, where a total of 10,175 animals are being prepared for Eid. These include 9,308 cattle, 684 goats, 22 buffaloes, and 161 sheep. He added that the supply of sacrificial animals is expected to exceed demand this year, and production may increase further in the coming days.
Farmers are also being provided with necessary guidance to ensure proper and hygienic livestock rearing.
