Goats and chyangra sheep arrive in Kathmandu, but market turnout thin

Goats and chyangra sheep from various districts and the Himalayan region have arrived at Kathmandu's Kalanki livestock market for Dashain, but customer turnout appears lower than in previous years.

According to traders, goats have been brought from districts including Dang, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Baitadi and Udayapur.

Traders say the price of live goats at Kalanki ranges from about Rs 780 to Rs 900 per kilogram.

The price of live chyangra sheep has been set at around Rs 1,300 per kilogram.

According to Jivanraj Khatiwada, chairman of the livestock trading centre at Kalanki, about 400 goats are currently entering the market daily.

He estimates that more than 1,000 livestock animals will enter the market daily from Fulpati onwards, with sales rising accordingly.

Ramhari Thapa Chhetri of Chitwan, who has traded at Kalanki for about 8-9 years, says goat prices have risen compared to last year.

Sales of chyangra sheep brought from Mustang have also begun at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur, where live chyangra sheep are selling for about Rs 1,250 to Rs 1,300 per kilogram.

According to trader Mekh Bahadur Nepali, there have been difficulties this time in purchasing and transporting chyangra sheep, and the price per animal has risen by about Rs 3,000 compared to last year.