Kaski. A total of 14,800 sheep and mountain goats have arrived in Pokhara targeting the Badasai festival. Traders from the mountainous districts of Mustang, Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura and Dolpa have brought sheep and mountain goats for sale. Sheep and mountain goats are being sold in Simpani of Pokhara Metropolitan City-1 and Hemja of Pokhara-25.

Nine thousand sheep and mountain goats have been brought from Mustang, 2,000 from Darchula, 1,800 sheep and mountain goats from Bajhang and one thousand sheep and mountain goats from Bajura and Dolpa, said veterinary doctor at Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Livestock Service Section, Nawaraj Adhikari.

He said that some sheep and mountain goats are still on the way and they will reach the market one or two days before the Phulpati. Local sheep are also brought to Pokhara for sale from other districts of Gandaki Province. Veterinary Adhikari said, “Sheep and mountain goats have already arrived in Pokhara for Dashain. Some traders have already brought them to the market while many have kept them in the grazing areas around Pokhara. We have received information that these sheep and mountain goats will be brought to the market in a day or two.” ”

Meanwhile, a joint team of Livestock Service Section, Veterinary Hospital, Livestock Service Office, Kaski and Livestock Quarantine Office, Pokhara has started monitoring the health condition of sheep and mountain goats. According to the team, most of the sheep and mountain goats were found healthy during the monitoring. Continuous monitoring will be carried out till the day of Fulpati.

While bringing sheep and mountain goats by the traders, the veterinary inspector from the Livestock Service Office of the concerned district will conduct a health examination and give a certificate. If the sick animals are found during the monitoring, isolation has been arranged to keep them separate from other animals.

Dr. Grishma Neupane, chief of the Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Office, Kaski, said that a joint monitoring was carried out keeping in mind the health condition, risk of disease and sale and distribution as a large number of animals enter the country during the festival season. He urged the consumers to pay attention to the health condition of the sheep and mountain goats while buying them. He suggested to choose the mountain goats that have no respiratory rate, no saliva and smooth hair in normal circumstances. “It is better to buy sheep and mountain goats that have been brought for a long time or in a vehicle a day or two in advance and bring them home at least 24 hours before slaughter.” Dr. Neupane said.

According to the Livestock Service Section of the metropolis, mountain goats are being sold at Rs 1,250 per kg while sheep are being sold at Rs 700 per kg at Haat Bazaar of Pokhara.

The demand for mountain goats grown in the cold climate in the mountainous region is high in Pokhara and surrounding areas during Dashain. Apart from sheep and mountain goats, a large number of goats are also brought from Surkhet, Arghakhanchi, Dang, Palpa and Tanahun districts and sold in Pokhara. Nawaraj Devkota, a trader from Mugu, said that it took 11 days to bring the mountain goats to Pokhara from Humla. According to him, in some places they were brought on foot and in some places by vehicle. He said that this year due to incessant rains and landslides, they have faced more difficulties in transportation than in previous years.

He said, “This time, sometimes we were troubled by water, sometimes we were troubled by floods. Earlier, the market was good, but now the market is also not good.” He said that the price of mountain goats is expensive because of the fees to be paid to various local levels and livestock service offices along the way.