LAHORE, Aug 22: The provincial metropolis may face meat shortage due to a continuous decline in the number of animals. Decrease in the number of animals procuring for meat supplies has resulted in increase in mutton and beef prices.

This reduction has contributed more to increase the prices as compared to exports which constitute only five per cent to seven per cent of supplies.

The number of animals for slaughtering falls due to absence of farming facilities for ensuring continuous supply of healthy animals for meeting the growing demand of meat with the growth in population. Traditional method of grazing animals in pastures cannot meet the growing demand of meat.

There has been a 43.51 per cent decrease in the slaughter of cattle during the past four years. As many as 129,915 animals were slaughtered in 2000-01. The number reduced to 73,387 and 56,528 in the following years.

Slaughtering of buffaloes decreased by 29.38 per cent during the past four years as 62,659 were slaughtered in 2000-01, 44,248 and 18,411 the following years. Slaughtering of cows decreased from 65,979 in 2000-01 to 28,944 in 2003-04 showing a 56.13 per cent decrease. An 84.72 per cent decrease in camel slaughter was observed as the number decreased from 1,277 in 2000-01 to only 195 in 2003-04.

Whereas an overall decrease has been observed in the slaughter of cattle for the supply of beef and goats for mutton, the number of sheep increased. Butchers have started slaughtering sheep because they cost lesser than goats but their meat is sold at the same price.

As many as 1,749,145 goats and sheep were slaughtered in 2000-01. The number decreased to 1,322,464 in 2003-04. The number of slaughtered goats decreased from 1,257,620 in 2000-01 to 760,898 in 2003-04. The number of slaughtered sheep, on the other hand, increased from 491,525 in 2000-01 to 561,566 in 2003-04.