Kathmandu, October 17 Dashain fever has already gripped the Kathmandu Valley and livestock markets are already witnessing a huge rush of customers looking for sheep and goats. But veterinary doctors have advised people to buy healthy goats and sheep for meat. Dr Binod Kattel said it wise to make sure that the animal’s eyes are bright and clear. “Types and sizes do not matter, but you need to buy the healthy ones. Examine their eyes, ears, nostrils, muzzle and tail thoroughly before taking the animal home,” he suggested. He also said that buyers should make sure that the goats and sheep have undergone medical checkup for major diseases like Johne’s disease, caprine arthritic encephalitis and caseous lymphadenitis. Kathmandu Metropolitan City, in association with District Administration Office, District Veterinary Office, the police and other stakeholders, has formed a nine-member monitoring team led by KMC chief Rudra Singh Tamang to monitor goats and sheep being sold for Dashain. Similarly, four medical teams led by Dr Anjirman Dangol, Dr Binod Kattel, Dr Mukul Upadhyay and Dr Bhimnath Chaulagain have been formed to conduct medical checkup of goats and sheep in the market. The medical teams have been deployed in the major livestock markets of Kalanki, Balaju, Bijuli Bazaar, Koteshwor and Tukucha. Dr Kattel, who is also a member of the medical team, said the doctors have been conducting medical checkup of more than 5,000 goats and sheep daily. “We usually assess the general health, including hair coot or fleece, vital signs and body condition, of the animals to ascertain clinical signs of common diseases. We also examine the body temperature,” he informed. According to studies, healthy goats and sheep have a body temperature of 101.5°-103.5° Fahrenheit and per minute respiration rate is 12-15 breaths depending on environmental temperature. Per minute heart rate is 70-80 beats. The medical teams paint the the horns of unhealthy goats and sheep red and those of healthy ones blue after medical check-up. The traders are required to keep the healthy and unhealthy goats and sheep separately. Consumption of meat of unhealthy animals may cause zoonotic diseases. KMC has appealed to all to buy goats with horns painted blue. More than 50,000 goats and sheep have already been brought to the capital from various parts of the country, India and Tibet for Dashain. Domestic production meets 70 per cent of the demand for goats during Dashain.