QUETTA: Muhammad Saad walked through a narrow passage by crossing through dozens of animals at the largest cattle market in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta as his eyes scanned the livestock for a bull from the famed Bhagnari breed.
The 18-year-old resident of Quetta’s Shahbaz Town could not find the muscular, large-sized yet beautiful animal to match his purchasing power despite hours of search at the market but was adamant to take home only a Bhagnari breed bull for Eid Al-Adha.
In Pakistan, the choice of beautiful animals for Eid Al-Adha is a tradition that reflects love, care and devotion, with people looking for goats, cows, bulls, sheep and camels with shiny coats, strong bodies, and unique colors or breeds.
These animals, which are mostly decorated with colorful collars, bells and henna designs, not only bring joy and excitement to families ahead of the festival but also symbolize generosity and gratitude in the spirit of Eid sacrifice.
“Our family has always sacrificed Bhagnari bulls and even today we have come here to buy the same breed,” Saad told Arab News as he continued searching for the desired animal at the Quetta cattle market last week.
“We like the Bhagnari breed the most because its unique characteristic is that it is exceptionally beautiful.”
The breed has its origins in the Bhagnari agricultural town of Balochistan's Kachi district that comes into national spotlight ahead of Eid Al-Adha due to its most sought-after bulls.
Animals from the Bhagnari breed are tall and heavy with a muscular build and round horns, with certain distinct markings. Their mouths and noses are pitch black, while their knees and feet are also black.
Many people prefer them for their flavorful meat to serve friends and relatives during Eid-Al-Adha's meaty gatherings.
This season, traders have brought hundreds of Bhagnari bulls to the sprawling cattle market near Quetta's Eastern Bypass area, which range between Rs230,000 ($2,405) and Rs700,000 ($7,320).
Asked about the increase in prices, Muhammad Asif, a 28-year-old livestock trader who has sold 35 bulls this season, attributed it to recent fuel price hikes in the country.
“These animals are brought from outside. The transport fare costs more [when petrol price increases], expenses go up and consequently, the prices increase too,” he said.
Asif said people preferred the breed because of their height, structure and beauty: "Despite the increased prices of these bulls, people are still buying them."
SUITABLE LAND FOR ANIMALS
Bhagnari is an agricultural area where the Nari river flows from Sibi and irrigates large swathes of land, while farmers there avoid the use of chemical fertilizers, which provides a clean and natural diet to animals.
Haji Ilyas, a farmer in Bhagnari whose family has been breeding bulls for the last five decades, said they do not even use fertilizers for wheat and sorghum crops, which was why their livestock were healthier than others.
“Their meat is highly flavorful because of the natural environment and pure feed,” he told Arab News over the phone from Bhagnari.
Back at the cattle market in Quetta, Muhammad Umar, a resident of the city's Nawa Killi neighborhood, also came to buy a prestigious Bhagnari bull for Eid.
“These bulls are identity of Balochistan and people buy the Bhagnari breed of bulls because the animal is beautiful in every aspect,” he told Arab News, adding that he was "shocked" to find out their prices.
“But we are looking for animals and trying our best because we have to perform this sacred ritual.”
