Cattle Trade in Bengal Affected Ahead of Eid al-Adha Amid Slaughter Norms

PTI, May 27, 2026, Kolkata: Amid strict animal slaughter guidelines laid down by the West Bengal government, the cattle trade in rural parts of the state has been affected ahead of Eid al-Adha, with traders reporting a drastic fall in the number of buyers in such marketplaces.

The disruption in trade triggered distress among traders and farmers, as animal husbandry has historically been one of the primary sources of income for rural households in the state, with thousands of families dependent on cattle rearing, dairy farming and seasonal livestock trade for sustenance.

Traders and cattle-shed owners in areas such as Baruipur, Bhangor and Sankrail claimed that the sudden implementation of the rules had brought cattle trade to a halt just ahead of Eid al-Adha, leaving many facing mounting debts and uncertainty.

In a notification issued on May 13, the West Bengal government laid down a set of guidelines barring animal slaughter without a “fit certificate” from authorities and warned of penal action for violations.

The notification also stated that animal slaughter in open public places would be “strictly prohibited”.

The authorities would assess the age and physical condition of bulls, bullocks, cows, calves and buffaloes before issuing a certificate for slaughter, it said.

Traders alleged that there was no practical mechanism to establish the age of cattle.

“How can one prove the age of a cow? Cows do not come with birth certificates,” said a trader at a cattle market in Baruipur.

Several cattle-shed owners in Sankrail said they were not prepared for the “abrupt enforcement” of the norms.

“This has been our family business for generations. Our entire family and our children’s education depend on this business. A cow gives milk only for a few years, and once production drops, we sell them and buy younger cattle. If the trade suddenly stops, how do we feed these animals? We are in distress with mounting debt,” said A. Ghosh, a dairy farmer from Howrah district.

The government restrictions have also disrupted Bengal’s rural dairy economy. Traditionally, dairy farmers recover costs by selling ageing, non-milking cattle and reinvesting in younger animals.

A cattle-shed owner from South 24 Parganas said maintaining non-productive cattle would make the business unsustainable.

“Keeping a cow that has stopped producing milk costs more than Rs 300 a day. Small farmers cannot continue bearing this loss indefinitely,” he said.

Several traders alleged that many among them lacked formal trade licences and feared they would not be able to participate in cattle trading this season.

“If traders cannot do business during the festival period, how will we survive? Who will compensate for the losses?” another cattle farmer asked.

Amid the uncertainty, Kolkata’s Nakhoda Mosque Imam Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasmi said that his appeal urging Muslims to refrain from cow sacrifice this Bakrid had received a “huge response” and claimed that there is “almost nil” cattle trade in many markets.

“There will be virtually no cow slaughter this Bakrid,” Qasmi told PTI, attributing it to both the public response to his appeal and the strict implementation of the slaughter norms.

The issue has also triggered political debate in rural pockets where cattle trade and dairy activities support both Hindu and Muslim families.

While some observers viewed the mosque appeals as a gesture aimed at maintaining communal harmony, others alleged that the restrictions and the collapse of the cattle trade were putting economic pressure on Hindu cattle rearers dependent on the business.