RAJSHAHI, MAY 25 (V7N)– As Eid-ul-Adha approaches, farmer Shah Alam of Khulupara in Debipur municipality, Durgapur upazila, Rajshahi, is nurturing high hopes for his prized Friesian bull, "Bahadur." The 15-maund (approximately 600 kg) bovine, known for its calm demeanor, impressive height, and sturdy build, has become a local attraction.

Bahadur, a massive Friesian bull, was observed at Shah Alam's farm on Thursday (May 22). Its owner meticulously cares for him, incurring daily food expenses of around Tk 700. Bahadur's diet consists of green grass, various grains, oranges, malta, corn, chickpeas, and rice flour.

Shah Alam has been specially raising this 15-maund Friesian bull. The bull is currently the talk of the Durgapur animal market, with Shah Alam asking for a price of Tk 5.5 lakh. Locals and visitors from across the country are flocking to Shah Alam's house to see Bahadur. Many are seen posing for photos with the imposing animal or filming video reels.

Local resident Salim Uddin commented, "Shah Alam Bhai is raising the biggest cow in our village, I heard about it. I came to see it today, saw it, and really liked it. I also want to raise such a cow." AKM Azad from the Belgharia area, after seeing Bahadur, stated, "There is no other cow this big in the Durgapur upazila area. This is the biggest cow in Durgapur. Considering the current price of cows in the neighboring Taherpur market, the price the cow owner has asked for seems quite low."

Bahadur is housed with meticulous care in a mud-brick room within Shah Alam's home, complete with windows, lights, and fans to ensure proper ventilation. Shah Alam, along with his wife and son, attends to Bahadur every morning and afternoon, providing a timely "royal bath" and feeding. The bull measures approximately 5.5 feet tall, 8.5 feet long, and about 3 feet wide.

Shah Alam shared, "The cow is a baby from my cowshed. It is a Friesian breed. I have been raising it for about three years. The cow has four teeth. When this cow was younger, it fetched a good price. I had no intention of selling it, so I did not take it to the market last time."

However, the current sentiment among traders at the Qurbani market is cautious, with sales reportedly low as the market has not yet fully established itself. Traders fear potential losses due to buyers not offering favorable prices. Conversely, buyers are complaining that cow prices this year are at least Tk 20,000 to Tk 30,000 higher than last year. Observations from various markets indicate that small and medium-sized cows are selling for Tk 70,000 to Tk 80,000, while slightly larger cows fetch over Tk 1 lakh.

Upazila Animal Resources Officer Dr. Mocha: Jannatul Ferdous assured that a veterinary team has been established in Durgapur to prevent the sale of diseased cows in the markets this year. She emphasized that cows are being fattened naturally under the guidance of their office, ensuring no cows fattened with harmful chemicals are sold. Farmers, however, remain hopeful that if Indian cows are not widely available in the market this year, they will receive a fair price for their domestically raised cattle.

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