The sacrificial animal markets around Karachi have begun to swell with livestock especially raised for Eid-ul-Azha by farmers in rural Sindh and Punjab.
Farmers in these two provinces have now begun to raise cows, goats and sheep for sacrificial purposes on the principles of livestock farming and animal husbandry guidelines. Animals at these farms are usually fully protected against disease and given all kinds of fodder to increase both weight and fat to keep them healthy. These ara checked against tuberculosis and foot and mouth diseases.
These animals are usually available for sale on the basis of their weight. The rates range between Rs 115 per kg to Rs 120 per kg. Good bargains at certain places keep prices at Rs 100 to Rs 105 per kg. Most popular places for these animals are mosques and imambarghas and stalls put up by CSDs.
There are other places such as open grounds in the Defence Housing Authority, Korangai and Landhi areas where people set up stalls for sale of such animals. To make up for the shortage of these animals, goats and sheep raised in the hilly tracts of Balochistan and arid zones of Sindh and Punjab are also available for sale on weight basis.
At some places such as Imam Askari School in Rizvia Society and Khurasan Research Centre near Federal B area, there are sacrificial animals for sale as well as arrangement for slaughtering animals on Eid days have also been made. The slaughtering charges are nominal and range between Rs 250 to Rs 300 per animal. Rates for cows are different. These may range between Rs 500 to Rs 700, mostly depending on its size and weight.
In all circumstances these markets have brought solace for the people, as they have to bargain neither prices nor the slaughtering charges. The hassle of transportation has also been looked after appropriately at these sale points. Those who want to carry the animal to their houses can do so.
Suzuki Pick-ups at these places do not indulge into bargaining and mostly remain reasonable in matter of transportation charges. They prefer to transport animals purchased by more than two to three persons living in the same area. In case a purchaser does not want to take the animal to his house he may leave it with the caretakers who charge very nominal amount as feeding charges.
After leaving the animal he can come on the appointed day and carry out the ritual of sacrificing it. But those who purchase animals on Eid raat (on the night of Eid) may leave it with the management and slaughter it in the morning. They do not have to pay extra charges for the overnight stay of the animal with the caretakers.
The butchers at these places are not skilled in the art of skinning and cutting meet in pieces; nevertheless they provide considerably satisfactory service as compared with the services butchers' parties provide during their door to door call. Most of these butchers are not professional but groups of people who join hands to make a little extra money on Eid day through their services.
The professional butchers already remain booked for three Eid days. Their charges for slaughtering a goat are between Rs 700-800 and cow between Rs1200 to 2500.
Sacrificial animals that are available at the Super Highway have come from different parts of Sindh, lower Punjab and Balochistan. The market is slightly on the higher side as far as goats and cows are concerned. The price of sheep is comparatively on the lower side as compared to the price range of goats.
Reason for this price differential is over production of sheep in Balochistan because of adequate availability of water and fodder. The other reason is that people mostly prefer goat to a sheep for scarifying. An average sheep weighing between 40 to 50 kg costs Rs 2,500 to Rs 3,000 whereas goat in the same weight range costs Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,500.
The Kamori breed of goat is more popular among the purchasers for their growth, colour, quality of skin and weight. Kamori comes from the lower Punjab and Sindh. Good quality Kamori fetches high price, which may at an average, be within the range of Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000. Those animals, which a few sellers put on display with higher value tag to attract buyers also, belong to Kamori breed.
Other breed usually known as Pahari comes from Balochistan. These are popular among lower middle income groups. These have long hair and often big in size and light in weight. The average price of this breed fluctuates between Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500. A good bargainer can have this breed even below the average price. Prices of cattle are same as they were last year. A good quality Rajisthani bull is available at Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000 whereas a red Sindhi cow is available at Rs 10,000. The prices of these animals vary according to size and weight.
A few farmers who have produced cattle through artificial insemination from Australian seeds are the lucky ones. Their animals are good looking with white and black or brown and white patches on their skin and weigh above 800 kg-1250 kg.
The price range of these animals is between Rs 55,000 to Rs 60,000. Those who want to go for better quality and more weight pay more. At an average a good cow should not cost more than Rs 15,000. The market is slightly on the higher side but it would settle down soon after the arrival of fresh stock from the Rajisthani belt of Sindh and lower Punjab.
Markets that have sprung up near Hasan Square, Liaquatabad No 10, North Nazimabad, Pathan Colony and in parts of Korangi and other localities have sufficient open space to keep animals. As far as prices at these places are concerned, they are on the higher side than those prevailing on the Super Highway animal markets.
It is said that their stalls are illegal and are set up against the orders of the city administration. They bribe police and other city government officials to carry on their business within the city. It is advisable to visit animal markets in the daytime so that animals purchased could be checked properly for diseases as in winter cold and cough, as humans catch it, affects animals also. In human beings it can be controlled but in animals it proves fatal.
In the light of the day the purchaser can examine the body of the sacrificial animal for defects and can detect parasites that usually attack animals and remain hidden inside the wooly skin. Purchasers should also check for ticks, bugs and flies that stick with the skin of an animal and travel to the purchaser's house. Many of these are harmful for children.
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