Vendors haggle with customers at a cattle market set up on the outskirts of Multan, ahead of Eidul Azha. photo: application
LAHORE:
As Eidul Azha approaches, prices of animals slaughtered at livestock markets have once again become a focal point of debate, with buyers complaining of unusually high rates while traders argue that they are not receiving fair returns for their livestock.
Unlike most commodities, Pakistan has no official pricing formula or regulatory mechanism to determine the cost of slaughtered animals. Experts note that prices are usually set based on multiple factors, including age, weight, race, health, physical appearance, and prevailing demand in the market.
In livestock markets, ordinary goats and sheep are sold between Rs 90,000 and Rs 125,000, while premium breeds are priced between Rs 200,000 and Rs 400,000.
Similarly, medium-sized bulls and calves are available between Rs 300,000 and Rs 700,000, while tall and heavier breed animals are offered between Rs 800,000 and Rs 1.5 million. Prices of camels range from Rs 500,000 to Rs 2 million.
Livestock traders maintain that animal prices cannot be based on a single reference point, as several variables influence valuation. Abdul Rehman, a trader who brought goats from Bahawalpur for sale, said prices are determined after evaluating the breed, weight, health, size, appearance and market demand.
“Animals of superior breeds and attractive appearance tend to attract greater demand, which naturally increases their prices,” he said.
Another trader, Mian Shafiq, said rising costs of fodder, medicine, transportation and general animal care also directly impact prices. He added that animals with higher demand fetch better prices, while those with lower demand are sold at comparatively reduced prices.
Rana Mubashir Hassan, owner of a breeding farm, said producing high-quality animals requires substantial investment, which is reflected in their higher market value. He added that farms continually bear costs for food, health care and vaccination.
On the other hand, buyers have described current prices as excessive. A citizen, Aftab Ahmed, said that traders demand prices that “touch the sky.” He added that while sellers set prices based on breed and weight, buyers often bid based on their financial ability.
“When merchants do not hesitate to demand very high prices, buyers do not hesitate to offer much lower quantities,” he noted.
A spokesperson for Punjab Livestock Market Development and Management Company, Sheikh Asad Zafar, said there is no official formula or standard mechanism for fixing prices of slaughtered animals.
According to him, merchants determine prices independently based on race, weight, health and appearance, and the company does not intervene in the pricing process.
He added that action is taken whenever complaints of fraud or deception are received from both buyers and sellers. The spokesperson advised citizens to purchase animals only from registered livestock markets and designated premises set up by the company, and to avoid purchasing from street vendors.
He further clarified that the slaughtered animals are not officially labeled or numbered through any formal system.
Meanwhile, competition between livestock traders and buyers has intensified across markets, with a visible increase in the supply of both small and large slaughter animals, although buyer participation remains relatively moderate.
Despite the increase in supply, the number of buyers has not increased proportionally, creating a competitive environment in terms of prices and sales between merchants and buyers.
