Hyderabad: Ahead of Eid ul Adha — popularly known as Bakrid, the festival of sacrifice — sheep prices in Hyderabad have doubled compared to last year due to a rise in demand amid a supply shortage of cattle.
The average price of sheep in the city has reached Rs 35 thousand. However, the prices go up to Rs 3 lakh.
Last year, the average price of sheep was Rs 16-17 thousand.
Demand for premium goats
Ahead of Bakrid, Hyderabad is witnessing a rise in the popularity of premium goats and sheep.
One of the markets that sells such animals is located at Attapur wherein goats and sheep from Kashmir, Ladakh, and foreign countries are being sold.
Meanwhile, there is also a demand for Qurbani services in Hyderabad. Though demand declined compared to the COVID years, it is slowly increasing year-on-year.
Impact of sheep prices on business ahead of Bakrid in Hyderabad
The business turnover for Bakrid in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts runs into crores of rupees and attracts several locals to become traders of sacrificial animals. It is likely to go up this year due to the rise in sheep prices in Hyderabad.
Traders from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra bring their animals to sell at temporary markets set up every year in Hyderabad.
The biggest Bakrid markets are at Mehdipatnam and Jiyaguda. Other places where one can buy animals for Bakri Eid are Balapur, Falaknuma, Kalapather, Langer Houz, Chanchalguda, Khilwat, Mallepally, and Bowenpally.
Although sheep traders from various places come to sell animals at the temporary markets in the city, many local businesses and groups of youngsters also engage in seasonal business before Bakrid in the hope of making some money.
