Jhalakathi farmers prepare cattle for Eid market amid rising feed costs

With Eid-ul-Adha approaching, cattle farms in the Jhalakathi district are bustling with activity as farmers intensify preparations to supply sacrificial animals to local markets.

Farmers are busy rearing and fattening cattle, hoping to secure good prices during the Eid season, one of the most important periods for the livestock sector.

From early morning to evening, farm workers are seen feeding cattle nutritious diets and ensuring proper care to keep the animals healthy and market-ready.

Many farms have already begun taking advance orders from buyers ahead of the festival.

Farmers, however, have expressed concern over the rising prices of cattle feed, saying the increasing production cost may affect their profit margins this year.

They also urged the authorities to stop the entry of illegal Indian cattle into local markets, claiming that an unchecked inflow of foreign cattle often causes local farmers to incur losses during Eid sales.

Various breeds of cattle, including indigenous, Australian and Holstein varieties, are being reared at farms across the district.

Farmers said they are using hay, green grass and balanced feed to ensure the proper growth of the animals.

Dr Nirod Baran Joydhar, district livestock officer, said farmers are being provided with technical support and guidance to rear livestock in a safe and natural way without using harmful substances.

He said the district's demand for sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Adha can be fully met through local production this year.

District livestock officials said Jhalakathi will require around 30,234 sacrificial animals for Eid, while about 30,588 cattle are currently being prepared at nearly 1,500 farms across the district.

They expressed optimism that local farmers will be able to meet the entire demand for sacrificial animals during the festival season.