Bengaluru, 11 June

With Eid al-Adha, also known as Bakrid, just around the corner, Muslims in the City gear up to celebrate the much-awaited festival. However, Bengaluru residents are returning home empty-handed without buying any sheep or goats as the prices of the animals have skyrocketed by at least 50 per cent.

Sheep traders blame the price rise on extreme heat and water scarcity, which led to the deaths of livestock due to heatstroke. This has caused a decline in the supply of sheep and goats, pushing up prices.

Rayappan, a livestock trader from Tumakuru selling sheep near TV Tower, told Salar News that he had raised 150 sheep and 100 goats this year. However, only 90 sheep and 65 goats survived the extreme heat.

The price of sheep in 2023 ranged from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000. Now, it has shot up to Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000, depending on the size and weight of the animal. The heaviest animals, weighing up to 50kg to 70kg, can cost Rs 60,000 to 70,000. Meanwhile, sheep or goats weighing 30kg to 40kg can cost between Rs 30,000 and 40,000.

Chamarajpet, the hub of the sheep trade in the city during Bakrid where at least 500 sheep are sold daily during this period, wore a deserted look.

Nagaraju, another seller from Ballari who sources his sheep from farmers' village fairs before bringing them to the city for sale, said, "I could only get 40 sheep this year, and out of that, only eight have been sold in the last two weeks."

Shoaib Khan, a resident of RT Nagar, said he was forced to purchase sheep at double the price compared to last year. "I bought two sheep for Rs 30,000 last year, and this year only one sheep is costing Rs 30,000, which means Rs 60,000 for two of them," he told Salar News.

Shazia Banu, a housewife and resident of Chamarajpet, purchased Jamunapari goats for Rs 30,000 last year. This year, she paid Rs 80,000 for one goat. "These prices are outrageous," she said.

Kenguri, Hassan, Sira, Bannur, Yalaga, and Kukumpalli are favorite sheep breeds in Bengaluru. Out of these, Bannur and Sira are the most in demand. A good quality Bannur sheep costs between Rs 40,000-60,000, while a Sira sheep is priced at Rs 40,000 to 50,000.

Sudhir Krishna, a veterinarian near Kaggalipura, told Salar News that sheep and goats cannot tolerate high heat. He said the first sign of heatstroke is reduced feed intake. "As their bodies struggle to stay cool, they focus energy on essential functions, sacrificing digestion. This can damage the intestinal lining and weaken the immune system, making them more susceptible to illness. In severe cases, weight loss and even death can occur," he said.

He added that this can be avoided by ensuring the animals have access to cool, fresh water at all times. Offering shade throughout the day to the animals also helps immensely. Salar News