Goats, sheep and buffaloes worth more than Rs 160 million were sold during the Dashain time alone in Jumla this year.

Bir Bahadur Rawal, Chief of the Chandannath Municipality, Livestock Development Section, said goats, sheep and buffaloes worth Rs 163. 21 million were sold from Khalanga town alone during the Dashain period this year.

The sale of goats, sheep, buffaloes and fowls is generally high during the Dashain festival period as people sacrifice these animals at goddess shrines, and meat consumption also increases due to the festivities.

According to Rawal, 7, 928 sheep and goats supplied by the sheep farmers within the district itself and those imported from other districts were sold. Sheep worth Rs 152.32 million, goats worth Rs 7. 79 million and buffaloes worth Rs 3.11 million have been sold.

The maximum price of local sheep was determined at Rs 28, 000, the minimum price at Rs 10, 000 and the average price at Rs 19, 000.

Similarly, the maximum price of local goat was fixed at Rs 24, 000, the minimum price at Rs 8,000 and the average price at Rs 16, 000. The maximum price of buffalo is determined at Rs 50, 000, the minimum price at Rs 26, 000 and the average price at Rs 38, 000.

Only the local goats and sheep are sold in Jumla ever since livestock traders stopped importing goats and sheep from Tibet 12 years back.

The Livestock Service Office Jumla said 88, 000 sheep are being reared in the district.