Prices of sacrificial animals in Lahore’s cattle markets started declining a day before Eidul Azha as competition intensified among traders to sell remaining livestock.

Heavy crowds of buyers were seen at the cattle markets in Manawan, Shahpur Kanjran, Kahna, Saggian and Rohi Nullah, where the sale of sacrificial animals entered the final phase.

However, despite the downward trend in prices, many buyers continued to complain that animals remained beyond the reach of middle-income families.

A buyer at the Manawan cattle market, Muhammad Imram, said he had planned to purchase a goat within a budget of Rs150,000, but animals of reasonable size and breed were being sold for over Rs200,000.

He said the prices this year were 30 per cent higher compared to last year.

Another buyer, Azhar Hussain, said a calf of the weight that cost Rs350,000 last year was now being sold for Rs500,000.

He said purchasing large animals had become increasingly difficult for average households.

Traders said sellers from South Punjab had reduced prices more significantly compared to dealers from Lahore and adjoining areas.

A livestock trader from Dera Ghazi Khan, Ghulam Shabir, said prices of large animals had dropped by Rs50,000 to Rs75,000 over the past two days as traders attempted to avoid taking unsold animals back home.

A trader from Bahawalpur, Allah Ditta, said prices of small animals, particularly goats and sheep, had declined by Rs20,000 to Rs50,000.

However, he added that higher transportation, fodder and market expenses had reduced profit margins for traders this season.