Kathmandu, Oct. 13: With livestock, particularly goats, chyangras, sheep and buffaloes, arriving in the Kathmandu Valley for Dashain, the Department of Livestock Services has intensified health inspections to ensure safe meat consumption.
According to Hari Singh Bhat, a veterinary officer at the Department of Livestock Services, teams of veterinarians have been deployed to monitor and examine the health of goats being sold in the market, keeping consumer health in mind.
The technicians have been deployed at 10 designated locations where livestock enter the Kathmandu Valley. These include Kalanki Khasi Bazaar, Tukucha Khasi Bazaar, Sukedhara, Sallaghari and Lokanthali in Bhaktapur, Chandragiri, Chobhar, Balaju, Balkhu, Kalimati Fish Market and Chapagaun in Lalitpur, as well as other goat markets and collection centres.
According to Bhat, teams comprising four to nine members, including veterinarians and technicians, have been mobilised at the designated locations to examine the health of goats.
"There is a possibility that traders may sell goats affected by various diseases, taking advantage of the Dashain festival," he said. "Considering public health, the government has started testing the health of goats entering the Valley from Ghatasthapana."
The inspections include checking external signs of disease, monitoring heartbeats and collecting blood samples to determine the animals' health status.
Healthy goats are marked with green labels on their horns, while unhealthy ones are marked in red, enabling consumers to make informed choices.
"Only healthy young male goats and castrated goats are permitted for sale," Bhat said, adding that the inspections aim to prevent animal-borne diseases and safeguard public health.
He also advised consumers to buy only goats bearing green marks to ensure that the meat is safe for consumption.
According to Bhat, the inspection teams began checking livestock on Sunday, the first day of Dashain, and will continue until October 20, given the expected increase in livestock arrivals during the festival.
He said around 1,860 livestock had entered the Kathmandu Valley through various entry points. Of them, 1,216 were goats, 577 chyangras, 28 sheep and 35 buffaloes.
The inflow of livestock into Kathmandu is expected to increase gradually until October 20, he said.
According to Department statistics, the supply of livestock to the Kathmandu Valley during Dashain last year declined compared with the previous year.
A total of 35,848 livestock, including 29,000 goats, 890 sheep, 5,000 chyangras and 652 buffaloes, were supplied to the Valley during the festival last year.
In 2024, however, around 48,300 livestock entered the Kathmandu Valley during Dashain. Of them, approximately 38,500 were goats, 600 sheep, 3,126 chyangras and 1,178 buffaloes.
Bhat said the supply of goats declined last year compared with the previous year due to repeated road blockage caused by landslides along the Narayangadh–Mugling road section.
Around 50,000 goats are consumed in the Kathmandu Valley during Dashain.
Jeevan Khatiwada, a goat trader and founder of Kalanki Goat Bazaar, said the supply of goats to the Kathmandu Valley began on Sunday.
However, landslides blocking roads at various locations, including the Mugling–Kathmandu route, had disrupted supplies by Sunday, he said.
He added that the supply of goats and chyangras was expected to increase gradually in the coming days as the roads had reopened.
Mutton price may touch Rs. 2,000 per kg
Meanwhile, mutton prices have increased significantly this year amid a rise in the price of live goats and concerns over limited supply.
Khatiwada said the price of live goats had increased by around Rs. 200 per kg compared with last year.
Live goats are currently selling for Rs. 800 to Rs. 900 per kg, depending on their weight, against Rs. 650 to Rs. 725 per kg last year.
Hari Katuwal, another goat trader, said mutton prices, which began rising in Asar amid concerns over bird flu, had increased further with the start of Dashain.
Mutton is currently selling for Rs. 1,600 to Rs. 1,800 per kg in the Valley, depending on the shop and location. The price could reach Rs. 2,000 per kg from Phulpati onwards as demand increases.
Katuwal said he had sold mutton for Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,400 per kg during last year’s Dashain.
“This is the highest price of meat ever recorded in the Kathmandu Valley,” he said, adding that the price had risen by around Rs. 300 per kg compared with last year.
He said the price of live goats at the farm level had also increased by Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 per kg this year.
He is currently purchasing live goats at Rs. 800 to Rs. 850 per kg from farmers in Sindhupalchowk district.
An increase in the price of live goats at the farm level directly pushes up the retail price of mutton, he added.
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