Beautiful Rajanpuri Nukra goats highly prized, and costly, at Islamabad's Eid market
ISLAMABAD: With their snow-white coats, drooping pink ears and regal build, Rajanpuri Nukra goats are turning heads and emptying wallets at Islamabad's bustling Eid Al-Adha cattle market this year.
A strain of the Beetal goat native to the Rajanpur region of Pakistan's Punjab province, they are also known for their large size and muscular build.
Highly prized for their meat, and a popular choice for Eid Al-Adha sacrifices, some have sold for as much as Rs2 million ($7,140) this season.
At Islamabad's cattle market on Bhatta Chowk earlier this week, many people gathered around the goats to admire their appearance and snap pictures, while others negotiated deals.
'We have come here from Rajanpur as people in Islamabad and Rawalpindi prefer Rajanpuri goats over other breeds due to their white and pink coloration and impressive height,' said merchant Hamza Ali.
He added that he had brought 20 of the prized animals to the market and sold most of them within four days.
'We're getting good prices for them here. Of the 20 goats we brought, one sold for Rs2 million last night.'
Traders at the market have been selling the Rajanpuri goats for anywhere between $715 and $7,140, several merchants said.
Highlighting the care involved, Muhammad Umair, a cattle trader, said the goats are nurtured from birth, referring to them as a 'purebred line.'
'We divide them into two groups. Those with good height and large size receive a special diet that includes wanda, choker, desi ghee and other nutritious ingredients,' he told Arab News as he petted one of his animals.
Goats similar in size to regular breeds are available at lower prices but still higher than other strains.
'It has large pink ears, white eyes, and a pink nose, along with a pure white coat, which makes it highly attractive to buyers,' Umair added.
Muhammad Bilal, a 23-year-old student from Islamabad, said he wanted to buy a Rajanpuri goat because of its white coat and long ears.
'Although the price is a bit higher, we will still buy it because we really like it,' he told Arab News.
Another customer Ilyas Khan, 40, expressed frustration over the high prices, saying they were unaffordable for most market visitors.
'My children took pictures with them,' Khan, a businessman, said. 'But these are out of our reach as even the smallest ones are starting at Rs150,000, which is too much.'
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