A massive bull named ‘Bahubali’ has become the talk of the town in Narail’s Kalia upazila as farmers prepare for the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha.
Weighing approximately 1,120 kg (28 maunds), the Friesian-Sahiwal crossbreed stands 6 feet tall and spans 14 feet in length.
Ripon Mina, the owner of Rahul Riya Agro Farm in Khororia village, purchased the bull two and a half years ago when it weighed only 200 kg. Since then, he has reared the animal with meticulous care, avoiding artificial fattening methods. Instead, Bahubali grew to his current size on a natural diet of grass, oilcake, maize powder, and molasses.
"We raised him like a child for two years," Mina said. "If we had used artificial growth hormones, he might have been even heavier, but he would have been lethargic. Because of his natural diet, Bahubali is energetic and healthy."
Mina is asking 1 million taka for the four-year-old bull. To avoid the stress of a traditional cattle market, he hopes to sell the animal directly from his farm. He expressed a particular interest in selling the bull to the local Member of Parliament, Biswas Jahangir Alam.
Despite his enormous size, Bahubali is generally calm, though he requires a team of 10 to 12 people to manage him when moved out of his shed. A farmworker, Parul, mentioned that they bathe the bull regularly with shampoo to maintain his "royal" appearance.
District livestock records show that Narail has 45,497 cattle ready for sacrifice this year, exceeding the local demand of 39,733. District Livestock Officer Dr Md Rashedul Huq confirmed that Bahubali is likely the largest bull in the district.
"We hope the farmer receives a fair price, which will encourage others in the region to take up cattle farming," Huq stated. Veterinary teams will also be stationed at six local markets to ensure only healthy animals reach consumers.
bd-pratidin/GR
