UW professor visits Nepal to help boost wool production

• Nepalese sheep farmers

Justin Luther, assistant animal science professor at UW-River Falls, meets with participants of the training session in Pokhara, Nepal. Submitted photo

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veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and animal science professionals, recently spent three weeks in Nepal assisting the Ministry of Agriculture in its efforts to improve Nepal's sheep-breeding program.

Hand-woven wool carpets are the major export commodity of Nepal, but a lack of the type of sheep needed for them has forced the country to import much of the wool necessary to produce carpets. Nepal needs to increase production of carpet wool to meet the mandatory World Trade Organization provision that eight percent local raw material be used to make the carpets if they are to be marketed as Nepalese.

The Department of Livestock Services in the Ministry of Agriculture developed a plan to crossbreed the Baruwal sheep, which are plentiful, with carpet wool exotic breeds from Australia. Crossbred rams produced on the government farms would then be distributed to thousands of small farms across the country.

“It was an awesome experience from a sheep production perspective and the people were very hospitable,” said Luther. “Visiting the government farms, with their diverse operations, and being present for the festivities in honor of Buddha’s birthday were two highlights of my trip.”

Tags: uw river falls, science, agriculture, wisconsin, education