The sacrificial animals business and trading in Pakistan generate significant economic activity and present substantial opportunities for full-time livestock businesses and seasonal traders. According to an estimate, 6.8 million animals were sacrificed in 2024, generating a total of Rs. 671.7 billion in economic activity from the sale of these animals.
Starting a full-time business, Eid-ul-Adha can be quite profitable, and in an inflationary economy, this can also be a great side income opportunity. Whether you want to start trading near Eid or start a full-time business, I have listed some important details and tips in this comprehensive guide.
Let’s start with the figures first!
Figures
Before we move on to the guide and tips, here are some figures you need to know before jumping into this business.
As per a report published in the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), approximately 6.8087 million animals were sacrificed in 2024. The segmentation of the animals sacrificed is as follows:
- 2.86 million cows and bulls
- 0.165 million buffaloes
- 3.3 million goats
- 0.385 million sheep
- 0.0987 million camels
If I talk about the economic activity, 84% of it is generated by the sales of the sacrificial animals with a total of 671.7B. Here’s the breakdown:
- Sale of animals: 671.7B
- Butcher fees: 101.3B
- Transportation (place to market): 10.2B
- Transportation (market to home): 5.1B
- Revenue from animal hides: 6.0B
- Decorative materials expenditure: 5.0B
- Total: 799B
Let’s see these estimates in detail:
- As we can see, the total economic impact is generated by the sales of animals (Rs. 671.7B – 84%), which indicates massive opportunities in the trade of sacrificial animals.
- Not only did the sales contribute significantly to economic circulation, but the butcher fee also did (Rs. 101.3B – 12.67%), providing employment opportunities to many. Many people start providing qasai services during Eid days and earn a handsome amount of money.
- Transportation (from the place the animals are raised to the market and from the market to home) also contributed Rs. 15.3B (1.92%) combined. So, providing transportation services during these days is highly profitable.
- Another significant activity was revenue generated from animal hides (Rs. 4.0B – 0.75%). It’s also a good opportunity to earn a side income.
- You will find many people selling decorative materials for the sacrificial animals near Eid-ul-Adha. Don’t take that lightly, as they contribute around Rs. 5B (0.63%) in the economic activity.
Some other activities, including feed, shelter rent in mandi, market entry fees for animals, the business of knives and meat chopping blocks, the sale and purchase of other animal body parts, and services like beef mince preparation and animal foot preparation, combined are assumed to account for 5 percent of the total economic activity, roughly Rs. 36.13B. Including these other activities, total economic activity through sacrificed animals and associated activities was around Rs. 839.2B during Eid-ul-Azha 2024.
Keep in mind that these are estimates and taken from a report published in the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), and the actual number might vary depending on various factors.
Now that you are aware of the numbers and the market for sacrificial animals, I will guide you on buying and selling the animals.
Let’s start with the purchase of sacrificial animals.
Guide to Buy Sacrificial Animals
Here are some of the most important things for buying sacrificial animals for trading:
Set Your Budget
You need to set your budget as per the capital you want to invest in this business. It totally depends on how much risk you can afford to take, as remember that in this business, while there is a good chance that you can make profits, the risk of losing money is always there. You can start this business under Rs. 50,000 or invest millions of rupees. But remember the wise saying: Only invest what you can afford to lose, not necessarily everything you’re capable of investing.
In small cities, prices of small goats and sheep (sacrificial) can vary from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 on average. The price of these goats and sheep in the big cities is around Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 45,000 on average. Medium ones can be purchased at an average price of Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 45,000. They can be sold at an average price of Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 70,000.
There is no price limit for large sheep and goats, as you may be able to buy them at a slightly higher price than a medium goat and be able to sell them at a very high price (the risk is higher as well). I have seen some goats being sold for over a million. Obviously, the cost of raising them could not be even half a million, yet they were sold at huge prices. It depends on the goat breed, size, weight, appearance, and some other factors.
You can buy 3 or 4 sheep/goats, or go for a bulk purchase of more than 20 animals. It totally depends on your budget and which category of animals you want to buy. The price of bulls, cows, and camels varies in different cities.
You might be able to buy a bull (small) at around Rs. 90,000 to Rs. 130,000. Its price in the big cities is around Rs. 120,000 to Rs. 160,000. Medium cows/bulls might cost you around Rs. 130,000 to Rs. 220,000. Their price in the market can be around Rs. 170,000 to Rs. 300,000.
Again, no limit for the large bulls here, as the sellers demand special prices for the large bulls depending upon their breed, size, and appearance. I have seen some sellers demanding even 5 million rupees (Rs. 50 lakhs) for the and even one seller recently sold his bull (named JF17 Thunder bull) at this price.
With a smaller budget, trading budget goats and sheep breeds is a better idea. Bulls, cows, and camels are suitable for those who are willing to invest more. Also, the small and medium animals can be sold in a shorter time than the pricier animals. It’s because a huge number of low to medium-income people search for budget-friendly sacrificial animals to fulfil their religious obligation.
Keep in mind that you will have to bear the cost of food and land till they are sold. So, remember this when budgeting. If you don’t have an investment, you might need to look for some ways to get an investment for your business.
If I wanted to start trading near Eid, I would go for popular goat breeds if my budget is limited. I could buy 3 to 4 medium-sized goats and sell them at a profit. After that, I would constantly reinvest profits and revenue in buying and selling the goats until Eid-ul-adha. After that, I would have carefully analysed the revenue, expenses, profits and other numbers. With that data, I could determine if I should buy baby goats and raise them until next Eid or again trade the animals near Eid.
Choose the Right Animal
Choosing the right animal is quite important, especially if you want to start a business or trade. Always choose what people are willing to buy. Pay attention to which animal you want to start business with, or you can trade easily as per your budget for trading. Here are some stats related to the sales of sacrificial animals in 2024.
These estimates show that goats and cows are the most sold animals for sacrifice, accounting for over 90% of the total animals sold. If I talk about the revenue, cows/bulls were at the top, followed by goats. This data will help you decide which type of sacrificial animal to choose for
Pay Attention to the Animal Breed
You have to remember that it is not always the weight of the animal that determines its price. People will pay you more for a Gulabi Goat as compared to a Pahari goat. Do proper research about which breed is more popular in the city where you want to sell them. Also, you need to check for their availability, as not every animal breed is readily available all over Pakistan. You may refer to our blogs on goat breeds and sheep breeds.
It is also important to note that the animals are categorised into three categories: ”Donda” (with 2 large front teeth), “Choga” (with 4 large front teeth), and “Chagga” (with 6 large front teeth). “Donda” animals are the most popular among all, and many people prefer to buy them.
Source Smartly
Smart sourcing is the only way to earn good profit. You will have to get a specific animal race or nasal from where it is commonly found. Like Gulabi Bakra, it is mostly found in interior Sindh. So, you are more likely to get it at a lower rate from there. If you get it in Punjab, you might get it at a higher price. Same is the case with Pahari Bakra, which is much cheaper in the northern areas of Pakistan.
Also, when buying, always buy a healthy animal, or it won’t sell. A sacrificial animal must not be injured. Check every animal thoroughly before purchasing. Also, keep in mind the transportation cost and total cost. Compare them in different areas. Choose the option that has a lower total cost (animal price + transportation cost).
Qurbani Rules for Buying Sacrificial Animals
It is also very important to learn about the Qurbani rules before buying sacrificial animals. As you are going to sell animals for sacrifice, it’s your responsibility to source the animals that are good to go for Qurbani as per the Islamic laws and Qurbani rules. Read my guide on Qurbani Rules the detail.
How to Sell Sacrificial Animals?
The next step is to sell them. There are different ways you can sell them on OLX Pakistan or even in the local market. Let us discuss them in detail here.
Sell Online
Nowadays, some prefer buying their animals online. This trend is fast catching up amongst urban dwellers. If you would like to sell your animals online, you do not need to set up a website. All you need is to post your ad on OLX Pakistan, as it connects buyers and sellers.
Selling directly to customers online is among the best options. You can post ads for your animals in the OLX Livestock Animals Category. With thousands of listings, you can get information about different types of animals and their average asking prices. It will help you determine the price and gain access to a massive audience looking to buy sacrificial animals.
To improve the visibility of your ad, you can choose from different packages. Improved ad visibility increases the chances of selling.
Sell in Bulk
Bulk selling is another good option. You can list the details and combined price of all the animals in your ad on OLX. Many traders are actively looking to buy animals in bulk. The profit margin might be lower in this case, but you can earn a good amount of money at once rather than waiting to sell your animals one by one.
Cattle Market
Selling the animals in the cattle markets is a traditional way of making money through sacrificial animal trade. You can visit the cattle markets in your city and see which market has a large number of buyers. Going there can increase the chances of selling quickly. Unlike selling on OLX, selling in the Bakra mandi has its own challenges. You need to stay in the scorching summer heat when selling cattle in the market. If it starts raining or there is a thunderstorm or hailstorm, you need to protect yourself as well as the animal(s).
Moreover, some cattle markets may also charge a fee to sell or even keep animals there.
Bonus Tips
Here are some bonus tips for you if you want to start a sacrificial animal business.
- Pay attention to the animal’s health
- Develop a clear financial and selling strategy
- Feed the animal appropriately
- Provide convenience to the customers
- Transportation
- Home delivery, as some people can’t handle cows and camels
- Provide guidance / educate the customers
- Professional attitude
- Many buyers are put off by the rough attitude of traditional sellers; set yourself apart with good customer service.)
Final Verdict
In the end, starting a business comes with a lot of responsibilities. It might get successful, and there is always a risk of failure. Remember that the sacrificial animal trading is different from the pet business in Pakistan, so don’t confuse the two. I have shown you some of the most important tips and guided you on buying and selling the animals for sacrifice. But you need to do more research on breeds, sourcing and locations, negotiation, feed, requirements of different animals, and much more.
Best of luck as you start this new business journey. I hope it turns into something truly successful.
Do you have any questions in mind? Ask us in the comment section below.
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