Buying qurbani animals: timing, rules and price
The qurbani market is the sharpest annual price curve in Pakistani trade. The same animal can cost dramatically more in the final week than it did a month earlier, and almost all of that difference is timing rather than quality.
Why prices climb so steeply
Demand is fixed to a date that everyone knows in advance, and supply cannot be increased at short notice — an animal takes as long as it takes to raise. As Eid approaches, buyers who have not yet purchased compete for a shrinking pool, and sellers know it. Buying several weeks out is the single most effective way to reduce what you pay, provided you have somewhere to keep the animal.
Age and condition requirements
Qurbani animals must meet minimum age requirements — broadly one year for goats and sheep, two for cattle — and must be free of defects that would disqualify them, including blindness in an eye, a severed ear or tail, or lameness. Check teeth for age rather than taking the seller's word, and walk the animal to see it move.
Mandi versus buying online
The traditional mandi gives you the animal in front of you, which matters. Buying online widens the choice enormously and lets you compare prices across cities, but it makes photographs and video do the work of inspection — so insist on video of the animal walking, and buy from sellers with a rating history rather than a new account posting a bargain.
Cost after purchase
The purchase price is not the total. Feed, transport and keeping the animal until Eid all cost money, and transport in the final days is itself priced by demand. Factor these in when comparing an early purchase against a late one, and confirm who is arranging delivery before you agree a price.
Common questions
When is the cheapest time to buy a qurbani animal?
Weeks before Eid rather than days. The price curve is steepest in the final week, and almost all of that increase is scarcity rather than better animals.
What is the minimum age for qurbani?
Broadly one year for goats and sheep and two years for cattle. Check the teeth to verify age rather than relying on what you are told.
Is it safe to buy livestock online?
It can be, if you insist on video of the animal walking, buy from a rated seller, and agree transport terms before paying. Avoid new accounts offering prices well below the market.
What disqualifies an animal?
Clear physical defects — blindness in an eye, a severed ear or tail, obvious lameness, or serious illness. Walk the animal before you commit.
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