Eid-ul-Azha and our livestock resources

Sacrificing cattle or other animals during the Eid celebration, in essence, generates money supply, is expansionary in nature, promotes trade and business …

The country has at least 1.15 crore sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS). The DLS sources also confirmed that there has been a sharp rise in livestock production in recent years in the country reducing dependence on neighbouring countries for importing animals during the holy festival. Moreover, now there are some 61, 72, 990 healthy sacrificial animals across the country in addition to 53, 85,000 which are old and unproductive but suitable for sacrificial purposes - raising the total number of animals to some 1, 15, 57,990. As per the stated facts and figures, it is clear that the country won’t be short of livestock resources.

The misperception that Eid-ul-Azha to put strain on livestock reserves is an old one, but the good news this time is that traders and importers will not have to depend on imported cows from neighbouring India. Additionally, our farmers will count losses if we import sacrificial animals despite having enough local livestock production. Sacrificing cattle or other animals during the Eid celebration, in essence, generates money supply, is expansionary in nature, promotes trade and business and creates jobs and a boom in economy. But the fact remains that competent macro management of such supply side economy could be crucial for sustainable development.

We would particularly focus on two sides regarding the trade and management of our livestock properties surrounding the holy festival. First, our law enforcers must be vigilant to deter the corrupt practice of hiking animal prices artificially by the sinister syndicate and control the cattle food price from shooting up before the festival.

Second, there may not be any scarcity of animals but the country is devoid of any policy or guidebook concerning buying, selling and slaughtering animals. In short, the overall economy surrounding the festival should be properly administered and controlled. From a management perspective, more than making profits out of selling and slaughtering animals indiscriminately, it is important to give its whole economy a proper framework.  

There is also the need for checking whether cattle are given heavy doses of steroids to make them fat and attractive. During the last several Eid-ul-Azhas, we have seen that this vicious trend increased. Buyers of large ox could not take their animal homes as the steroid-given animal died on the way.  

Eid-ul-Azha and our livestock resources

Sacrificing cattle or other animals during the Eid celebration, in essence, generates money supply, is expansionary in nature, promotes trade and business …

The country has at least 1.15 crore sacrificial animals for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS). The DLS sources also confirmed that there has been a sharp rise in livestock production in recent years in the country reducing dependence on neighbouring countries for importing animals during the holy festival. Moreover, now there are some 61, 72, 990 healthy sacrificial animals across the country in addition to 53, 85,000 which are old and unproductive but suitable for sacrificial purposes - raising the total number of animals to some 1, 15, 57,990. As per the stated facts and figures, it is clear that the country wont be short of livestock resources. The misperception that Eid-ul-Azha to put strain on livestock reserves is an old one, but the good news this time is that traders and importers will not have to depend on imported cows from neighbouring India. Additionally, our farmers will count losses if we import sacrificial animals despite having enough local livestock production. Sacrificing cattle or other animals during the Eid celebration, in essence, generates money supply, is expansionary in nature, promotes trade and business and creates jobs and a boom in economy. But the fact remains that competent macro management of such supply side economy could be crucial for sustainable development. We would particularly focus on two sides regarding the trade and management of our livestock properties surrounding the holy festival. First, our law enforcers must be vigilant to deter the corrupt practice of hiking animal prices artificially by the sinister syndicate and control the cattle food price from shooting up before the festival. Second, there may not be any scarcity of animals but the country is devoid of any policy or guidebook concerning buying, selling and slaughtering animals. In short, the overall economy surrounding the festival should be properly administered and controlled. From a management perspective, more than making profits out of selling and slaughtering animals indiscriminately, it is important to give its whole economy a proper framework. There is also the need for checking whether cattle are given heavy doses of steroids to make them fat and attractive. During the last several Eid-ul-Azhas, we have seen that this vicious trend increased. Buyers of large ox could not take their animal homes as the steroid-given animal died on the way.