Dashain goat and sheep market: demand for Tibetan sheep falls

The number of sheep and goats entering Nepal from Tibet via Mustang's Lijee-Nechung (Korala) border point for Dashain has fallen well short of expectations this year.

According to a group led by Karma Namgyal Gurung, ward chair of Lomanthang Rural Municipality-2, only about 439 sheep arrived in four consignments by the first week of Asoj, compared with an estimated 5,000 expected to come in.

Border traders say imports from Korala have declined because Nepali traders coming to Mustang to buy livestock have started prioritizing sheep and goats raised in local sheds instead.

In Pokhara, however, veterinarian Navaraj Adhikari of Pokhara Metropolitan City's animal service branch said about 14,000 sheep and goats have arrived from various Himalayan districts. He said around 9,000 goats have also come in from neighboring districts including Syangja, Parbat, Gorkha, Baglung and Tanahun.

Temporary livestock markets are operating in Kathmandu at Tukucha, Balkhu, Kalanki, Sallaghari and Koteshwor, where animals are bought and sold by live weight at a fixed price per kilogram. After health checks, goats certified healthy have their horns marked with green paint.