By Hari Krishna Sharma, Muktinath (Mustang), Oct. 17: Sheep and mountain goats worth more than Rs. 355 million have been transported from Mustang for this year's Dashain festival.
As of Thursday, farmers in five local levels of Mustang, along with those from Dolpa, Mugu and Humla districts of Karnali Province and other areas, had sold 13,717 sheep and mountain goats, generating a total turnover of Rs. 355.388 million.
According to Dr. Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, Mustang, the livestock included 7,964 mountain goats and 1,204 sheep from Mustang, 3,551 sheep and mountain goats from Dolpa, 260 from Mugu, 300 from Jumla and 438 mountain goats brought through Tibet via the Korala border point.
“Almost all the sheep and mountain goats intended for the Dashain market have already been sold. A few may still arrive, and more animals are expected to enter the market for Tihar as well,” Dr. Aryal said.
According to him, the number of sheep and mountain goats brought from Tibet has declined sharply as Mustang and Dolpa have increased their own production.
In the last fiscal year 2025/26, around 15,600 sheep and mountain goats were sold, bringing Rs. 365 million into Mustang.
Farmers in Mustang earn substantial incomes by selling the livestock directly from their sheds or transporting them to markets themselves. Depending on their breed, age and weight, selected and other sheep and mountain goats are sold at prices ranging from Rs. 28,000 to Rs. 52,000 per animal. The office estimates that animals worth around Rs. 20 million will be sold during Tihar. This year, the total value of sheep and mountain goats transported from Mustang is expected to exceed last year's figure by more than Rs. 10 million, Dr. Aryal said. The sheds used for the health inspection of animals brought for sale are gradually emptying as the animals are transported to markets.
Lo-Ghekar Damodarkanda, Lomanthang and Baragung Muktikshetra rural municipalities are among the major production areas for sheep and mountain goats in Mustang.
Livestock farmers from Mustang and traders from neighbouring Myagdi and Kaski districts, as well as Kathmandu and other parts of the country, transport the animals to markets for sale.
Angyal Gurung, a farmer from Chhoser of Lomanthang Rural Municipality-1 in Upper Mustang, said he had sold sheep and mountain goats worth more than Rs. 150 million this year.
“Floods and landslides made it difficult to transport the animals to market. We also faced difficulties while moving them with other traders' herds. Protecting them from wild animals in grazing areas is another major challenge. It takes three years of hard work before we can reap the benefits,” Gurung said. Generally, sheep and mountain goats must be raised for up to three years before they are ready for meat consumption. Farmers have to bear expenses for grazing, vaccination, herding and shelter during this period. It takes around four years to raise a premium-quality mountain goat.
According to trader Gyan Kumar Shrestha, who travelled from Kathmandu to purchase mountain goats, market prices have surged this year because nearly 1,450 fewer animals arrived from Chharka Tangsong Rural Municipality in Upper Dolpa compared with last year, partly due to adverse weather conditions.
Mountain goats are found in high Himalayan areas at elevations of up to 6,000 metres above sea level. Raised in extremely cold environments with low oxygen levels and feeding on alpine herbs, they are in high demand during festivals such as Dashain and Tihar because their meat is considered nutritious.
How did you feel after reading this news?