Many animal breeders selling their animals in the markets set up in various locations around İstanbul have already sold most of their stock. Seeing that most of the animals in the markets have been sold, buyers are purchasing animals as soon as possible.The breeders say sales are better than last year’s despite a price increase of about 30 percent, adding that people are choosing to buy cattle rather than smaller livestock.
Deciding to buy an animal after seeing that most in the market were sold on Sunday, Ergün Çelik said he purchased a cow for TL 4,200. “I came here to learn about the market, but I was surprised to see most animals have already been sold. Thinking I would not be able to buy an animal for less than that price or for the same as that price, I gave a deposit and stopped shopping around for an animal for the sacrifice,” he said.
Arriving at the Bağcılar animal market from Edirne’s Keşan district with his 24 sacrificial animals, Yaşar Çakır, an animal breeder, explained that like most other breeders, he had sold all of his animals. “I could not sell all of my animals last year despite the lower prices,” he said. Selling 35 out of his 40 animals, Rafet Gedik, a breeder from the northern province of Tokat, also said the demand has been higher despite the increased prices.
Another breeder from Tokat, Muhammet Bıyık, advises people who want to purchase an animal for sacrifice to act quickly since the remaining animals may go on the black market one or two days before the Eid al-Adha.
The animals already sold have the names of the people who bought them painted on them so they can be easily identified.
