Imtiaz Ahmed , Narayanganj 

With Eid-ul-Adha approaching, farmers in Narayanganj are busy fattening and caring for cattle using natural methods. These sacrificial animals are being raised on entirely organic and local feed. Alongside native breeds, exotic cattle such as Sindhi, Sahiwal, Brahma, and Bhutti, as well as goats and buffaloes, are being prepared for sale.

Across the district’s five upazilas, around 4,500 small and large farms have cattle ready for sale. Some farms have already started selling their animals.

According to the District Livestock Office, Narayanganj has a demand for 99,252 sacrificial animals this Eid. As of now, 86,426 animals are ready for sacrifice. This includes 48,273 bulls, 6,465 oxen, 910 buffaloes, 10,440 goats, 3,384 sheep, and 161 other animals leaving a shortfall of 12,826 animals. However, the Livestock Department expects this gap to decrease in the coming days.

Hanif Mia, a farmer from Kutubpur village in Sadar upazila, said he has fattened 10 cows using natural methods under the guidance of the Livestock Department. “I didn’t use any chemicals only organic feed. If no animals come from India or other countries, I might get a good price at the market. People are visiting every day to see the cows,” he said.

Abdus Samad, a farmer from Siddhirganj, said his farm has crossbred cows that not only look attractive but also command high prices ranging from 250,000 to 12 million Taka. “Not just buyers, even locals come daily just to see the animals,” he added.

The Livestock Department says that while fattened cows are popular, smaller cows are in highest demand. If the supply meets the demand, animal sales in Narayanganj could reach around 5 billion Taka this year.

District Livestock Officer Dr. Mannan Mia said farmers are trained year-round on proper animal care, including natural fattening techniques. “They feed the animals hay, wheat and lentil husks, grass, mustard oil cake, and bran,” he explained.

Farmers have also been educated on the dangers of using harmful substances like palm tablets, steroids, and dexamethasone, which can cause severe health risks to both animals and humans, including liver, kidney, heart, and brain damage. “Anyone found using these toxic chemicals will face legal action,” Dr. Mia warned.

He added that while there’s currently a shortfall in supply, this is expected to shrink soon. Being close to Dhaka, Narayanganj typically receives a good number of animals from Sirajganj, Pabna, and other northern districts, which balances the shortfall each year.

If market prices remain stable and rawhide fetches a fair price, farmers are likely to make a good profit this season.