01

Age: the teeth decide

عمر دانتوں سے پرکھیں

For cattle, the common ruling is a minimum age of two years. Buyers in Pakistan check the front teeth: a bull that has shed its first pair of milk teeth and grown two permanent ones (do daant) is taken as two years or more. Four permanent teeth means older still.

At the farm, ask to see the teeth. A good seller shows them without being asked twice.

02

Weight: maund, not guesswork

وزن من میں

Live weight in Karachi is spoken of in maund; one maund is 40 kg. A 'das man' bull is about 400 kg on the hoof. Live weight is what you pay for; meat yield is a share of it and depends on how the animal is built, how it was fed and how it is handled on the day.

Weights on this site are approximate and move through the season. The farm confirms weight on the animal at the shed.

• •Look at the depth of the body and the width of the back, not only the height.
• •A broad hump and a full hindquarter carry more meat than a tall, narrow frame.
• •Ask what the animal was fed in the last month; sudden weight is not the same as condition.

03

Breed lines you will see in Karachi

نسلیں

Most show-quality Qurbani bulls in Karachi come from a handful of lines: the heavy white Sibbi and Bhagnari cattle from Balochistan, Cholistani and Sahiwal lines from Punjab, Dhanni from the Potohar region, and crosses with Sudanese or Australian blood kept for size.

Colour and markings are a matter of taste and tradition; weight, health and temperament matter more for the family handling the animal.

04

Health and temperament

صحت اور مزاج

Watch the animal walk. Clear eyes, a clean nose, a smooth coat and steady breathing tell you more than a photograph. Ask about vaccinations and recent vet checks and look at how the animal behaves when a handler approaches.

A calm animal is easier for the family on the day, especially where children are around. Nervous animals need experienced handling and more space.

05

Shares in one animal

حصے

A bull or cow may be divided into up to seven shares, so families and friends often book one animal together. Agree the shares, who pays what and who handles the meat before booking, and have the farm note each share against the animal.

06

When to buy

کب خریدیں

Named, show-quality animals are booked months before Eid, often around the cattle shows in spring. Buying early gives a wider choice and a longer stay on the farm's feed routine. Buying late gives a narrower choice at mandi prices.

Eid ul Adha 2027 is expected around 26 May 2027, subject to the moon sighting. Plan the visit, the booking and the delivery date backwards from there.

07

Delivery and the last days

ڈیلیوری اور آخری دن

Most buyers leave the animal at the farm until the last days before Eid. At home, the animal needs shade, clean water at all times, dry footing, and the same feed it had at the farm; changing feed suddenly upsets the stomach.

Keep the animal calm, away from traffic noise and crowds, and give it a day or two to settle before Eid.

08

On the day

عید کے دن

Arrange a skilled butcher (qasai) in advance; they are booked out close to Eid. Keep the space clean, keep children at a distance while the animal is handled, and have the share lists ready so the meat is divided without argument.