Goat Semen Export to Nepal By: Ben Anderchek University of Guelph b/Flag_of_Nepal.svg/1000px-Flag_of_Nepal.svg.png

Nepal  Nepal is located in south Asia, between China and India.  Nepal’s capital city is Kathmandu.  Nepal is made up of three main geographical regions: the Himalayan region, the hills region, and the Terai region.  Nepal has five major seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter and monsoon.  Population of 30,986,975, with about 46% unemployment rate.  75% of the people in Nepal are involved in agriculture.

Product technology  Collection of semen from a male goat (buck) and transferring it to a female goat (doe).  Doe needs to be bred two or three times at 12 hour intervals to increase chance of fertilization.  Semen can be stored frozen, liquid, or cool in a fridge.

Canadian Supplier  The Canadian company we would be dealing with is OC Flock Management.  Founded and operated by Lynn Tait and Ileana Wenger in Bowden Alberta.  Currently have six different breeds of bucks available for semen.  Semen comes frozen in 0.25cc straws.  Offer training programs for semen processing, artificial insemination and embryo transfer.

Benefits to Canada  Increase demand for goat genetics and semen in Canada.  Bring profits to Canadian companies such as OC flock management, as well as Canadian goat farmers.  If demand in Nepal becomes large enough it could provide more jobs for Canadian’s in the goat industry /img/345.jpg content/uploads/2013/05/increase-profits.jpg

Benefits to Nepal  Goats are a growing business of 4% per year.  Can combine high quality Canadian genetics with environmentally adapted Nepalese breeds.  Nepalese farmers wouldn’t need to keep bucks for breeding and could sell them for meat instead.  Increase genetic quality of goat herds.  Increase family incomes

Target Consumer  Primarily farmers in the hills region where goat population is 300,071.  Also goat farmers in other regions.  Livestock production provides 20% of the household income in the hills region.  Take advantage of a large industry in Nepal and increase genetics so smaller producers can generate higher income from fewer goats.

Shipping/Marketing  Have sales representatives go into hills and inform farmers of product and its potential.  Get an estimate on how much semen should be sent over.  Ship semen by air from Calgary to Kathmandu.  store semen in a liquid nitrogen container when shipping, size will be determined by demand.

Conclusion  Poor quality goats in Nepal.  Use artificial insemination to improve genetics in goat herds.  Provide more money for families in the goat industry in Nepal

Further information  Ben Anderchek  University of Guelph in partnership with IDRC CIFSRF and DFAIT  Faculty Sponsor: Prof. Manish Raizada 

References  Naturally Nepal. (2012). Nepal Tourism Board. Retrieved November 10, 2014,from nepal.com/promotional/  The World Factbook Nepal. (n.d.). Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from  OC Flock Management. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from  Smith, J. (2009, April). Artificial Insemination of Dairy Goats. Retrieved October 4, 2014, from  Haenlein, G., Caccese, R., & Smith, M. (2014, May 10). Artificial Insemination. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from  FAO. (2010, June). Market-led Quality Meat Production and Processing. Retrieved October 7, 2014, from ftp://ftp.fao.org/TC/CPF/Country NMTPF/Nepal/thematic studies/Market-Led Meat _Comments Adjusted_.pdf  Ghimire, S. (n.d.). The Role of Small Ruminants. Retrieved October 7, 2014, from /docrep/004/T0706E/T0706E05.htm