A shortfall of cattle is likely to push up the prices of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrated in the first week of September. Market sources said the shortfall this year was triggered by the distress sale of cattle by many farmers in flood-affected areas in the northern districts. “Many areas of the country have been flooded. Farmers in those areas have already sold their cattle. So, there will be shortfall of supply of adult cattle during Eid-ul-Azha,” said Nuru Bepari of the Gabtali cattle market in the city.

Farmers said they were in desperate need of money and forced to sell their cattle and goats, as they could not feed the livestock following the flash floods. Their situation was particularly grim in areas like Sirajganj, Bogra, Gaibandha, Kurigram, Tangail, Manikganj, Jamalpur, Netrakona, Sunamganj and Sylhet.

Shahidul, a cattle farmer at Char Jangalia in Delduar upazila under Tangail district, said: “I normally rear four to five cattle every year to earn some extra money by selling them during Eid-ul-Azha. But this year, I don’t have any cows because the prices of their food are very high. Besides, the floods have added to our miseries.”

Sources said the tightening of border controls by neighbouring countries has also impacted the supply.

The Bangladesh Tannery Association (BTA) has also expressed apprehension over the shortfall of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha this year.

“We think there will be a shortfall this year as the flood-affected people don’t have the ability to feed their cattle. Many of the flood victims are not even getting enough food to survive themselves,” BTA general secretary Md Shakahwatullh told The Independent.

However, livestock department director general Dr Md Ainul Haque dismissed fears about the shortfall of sacrificial animals for Eid-ul-Azha.

“There will be no shortfall of supply. Rather there would be surplus. Many household farmers also rear cattle, goats and sheep targeting Eid-ul-Azha, and the number would be double than that supplied by the cattle farmers,” Haque told The Independent yesterday.

“According to our estimates, there are about five lakh cattle farmers across the country. They rear a total of 33.33 lakh cattle and buffaloes for Eid-ul-Azha. Besides, 28.33 lakh goats and sheep have also been reared,” he said.

Haque said that the livestock department was anticipating the demand for 1.15 crore cattle, goats and sheep during Eid-ul-Azha this year.

He also claimed that no cattle had died in the floods, but farmers sold their animals to others.

However, the tannery industry insiders said 1.60 crore animals were slaughtered in 2015-16, while the figures were 1.55 crore in 2014-15 and 1.36 crore in 2013-14.

The demand for sacrificial animal will increase this year from that of the past year, they added saying

as farmers have already sold many cattle heads, goats and sheep this year, the country will certainly experience a shortfall of sacrificial animal in the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha if Indian cows and buffaloes are not imported.

He said the livestock and fisheries ministry has taken steps to curb the use of cattle-fattening steroids and food, which are hazardous to human health. “We have zero tolerance for artificially fattened cattle. Our veterinary officers are continuously monitoring the matter at the field level,” he added.

Haque said medicine administration and law enforcement agencies have been included in the livestock monitoring cell. “Stern action would be taken against persons found guilty of fattening their cattle by injecting hormones and chemicals,” he added.