Business Recorder
LAHORE: With just days left before Eid-ul-Azha, Lahore’s cattle markets witnessed a massive influx of buyers over the weekend; however, the initial rush quickly gave way to widespread disappointment as skyrocketing animal prices and a punishing heatwave combined to dampen the festive spirit, leaving many citizens empty-handed. A large number of people visited the official cattle markets in search of sacrificial animals, and many left empty-handed due to prohibitive, extortionate prices. Most of the buyers complained that the prices of these animals do not fit in their pockets. This very factor had deterred people from visiting the markets earlier, in the hope that prices would come down closer to Eid day, but that was not the case on Saturday. On the other hand, the sellers flocked from various parts of Punjab, felt frustrated by the low interest shown by the buyer and thus, the slow sale of their animals. They felt that the existing inflationary environment did not give them room to lower the prices of their stocks. The sellers quoted high fuel and fodder prices as the main factors behind the excessive prices of animals. A trend had developed over the past many years that in the initial days, the prices of sacrificial animals remain very high and they crash just a few days before the festive day, bringing the price tag within the reach of the buyers’ buying pockets. This year too, buyers are hoping that a similar trend will repeat, and hence, there has been a low turnout in the markets in the past week. In the provincial capital, five temporary sale points and one permanent model cattle market at Shahpur Kanjran are operational, managed by the Punjab Cattle Market Management and Development Company (PCMMDC). The temporary markets have been established at Saggian, Wagah Sports Complex, Burki Road, LDA City and Raiwind. During the visits to various markets, as was expected, the sacrificial animals were expensive due to the inflationary environment, and the buyers were also expecting this. The demand price for sacrificial animals has witnessed a manifold increase from the previous year. A goat of a small size ranged between Rs 60,000 and Rs 100,000, which last year was available in the range of Rs 40,000-55,000. Moreover, the prices of a goat/sheep of medium size jumped to around, on average, Rs 150,000, which was available for around Rs 80,000 last year, and if the animal’s look is outstanding, then add an extra Rs 50,000. The price of a well-built goat/sheep starts from Rs 250,000; this group of animals is for the elite class only. The prices of cows also witnessed an increase, but less in comparison to small animals, and the prices vary wildly depending on the weight, look and breed. The price of an average cow was between Rs 150,000 and Rs 250,000, whereas the same animal was available in the range of Rs 110,000-180,000 last year. Moreover, for a large/well-fed bull, the sellers were asking for between Rs 300,000 and Rs 600,000, depending on its look. Meanwhile, the price of an average-sized camel was around Rs 500,000. Interestingly, there were some extremely well-built and extremely beautiful bulls, which could be labelled as celebrity animals, and their price tag was astonishingly high, ranging between Rs 8 million and Rs 10 million. Sellers have reported that the rising costs of transportation and animal fodder are driving up the prices of animals in the market. Sameer, a trader at the Shahpur Kanjran market from southern Punjab, stated that while thousands of animals are available, the high cost of fodder and other necessities has resulted in significantly elevated prices. Shakeel, a trader from northern Punjab, emphasised that the unprecedented increase in petrol prices has made transporting animals prohibitively expensive. This factor alone has forced sellers to raise animal prices. He noted that the combination of rising transportation costs and the increased price of animal feed has led to higher prices for sacrificial animals. However, buyer Usman Sheikh expressed frustration over the inflated prices, mentioning that goatherds are demanding outrageous sums for goats. “It’s nearly double what it was last year. As a businessman, I’m struggling to find an animal at a reasonable price. I have been visiting various markets for the past three days, but could not negotiate the price,” he said. Another buyer left the market empty-handed, visibly upset by the soaring prices. He expressed his anger, stating that nothing positive seems to happen in the country. “For the past few years, animals have become unaffordable for the average person, and this year is particularly ridiculous,” he lamented. He hoped the prices would come down near the Eid, just as it happened last year. Buyers are also complaining about increased transportation costs from the markets to their homes due to high petrol prices. One buyer mentioned that he had to pay over Rs 5000 to transport the animals he bought from Shahpur Kanjran to the city centre. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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