Silence in the sacrificial animal market: Costs rise, tent numbers fall

Hours before Eid al-Adha begins, an unexpected silence prevails in sacrificial animal markets. According to reporting by Cumhuriyet Gazette, rising costs have led to a marked decline in the number of market stalls in many provinces compared to previous years; the thinning of vendor stands reflects that the holiday atmosphere has yet to reach the markets.

Retirees and minimum wage citizens noted that sacrificial animal prices are far above their income levels and expressed that they cannot approach the market. For those living on fixed incomes, slaughtering a sacrificial animal has become largely unattainable this year. Sellers, meanwhile, stressed that their profit margins have eroded due to steep increases in feed and transportation costs, while they face serious difficulty finding buyers.

This cost pressure in the livestock sector is directly reflected in the overall picture of the sacrificial animal market ahead of the holiday. It is assessed that increases in small and large livestock prices could negatively affect red meat prices in the coming period.