Journal of Hill Agriculture

Traditional livestock production systems in highland areas of Nepal involve animals, especially yak and yak cattle hybrids as a source of food, prestige and security among the nomadic communities. Yak, which is also known as ‘the camel of snow’, is the livestock of choice among nomadic communities and is considered as the symbol of wealth. This study was done to document the present status of yak husbandry system, problems and proscons of transhumant pastoralism in the Mustang District of Nepal. 32 yak herders and 15 key persons, including the local leaders and traditional healers were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaires during February to May 2014. From this questionnaire survey and field visits, it revealed that grazing system is the only feeding system with little or no feed supplementation. The population and herd size are decreasing year by year. The herders are still following the uncontrolled methods of breeding with one male serving all the females, till its productive age, with a high degree of inbreeding. Disease endemicity, shortage of pasture, closure of Tibetan border for pasturing, increased draught period, lack of technical and veterinary facilities and low productivity are compelling herders to abandon the yak farming. They are usually following their indigenous knowledge in the treatment of disease, pests and poisoning with very little or no help from professional veterinarian. Although single species transhumant pastoralist is moderately efficient with the integration of local knowledge in all aspects of animal husbandry, it needs to be strengthened by integration of scientific method in breeding and feeding of yaks. Immediate strong extension programs, including the bilateral coordination between yak herders and researchers should be carried out, otherwise yak and their valuable resources will be rooted out from this country