𝐘𝐚𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐞𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐨 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐰𝐨𝐠

…𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒆, 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅

By Tashi Namgyel

Traditional yak herding in Roelmateng-Tsango Chiwog under Khoma Gewog in Lhuentse Dzongkhag has declined sharply, with only four of the village’s 16 households still rearing yaks, leaving about 600 animals in an area that once supported thousands. The steady drop has raised concern over the survival of one of Bhutan’s oldest highland livelihoods and the cultural identity tied to it.

According to Shacha Wangchuk, Tsang Ngo Tshogpa, the decline is driven by multiple pressures including labour shortages, pasture degradation, increasing predator losses, limited pasture land, climate variability, and low and uncertain income.

“Earlier, people kept many yaks, but today the number is gradually decreasing, and interest in yak herding is also going down,” the Tshogpa said. “Most young people are educated and move outside for their livelihoods. They are less interested in physically demanding work like rearing highland cattle.”
For centuries, yak rearing formed the backbone of life in the highlands of Khoma Gewog under Lhuentse Dzongkhag. Families depended on yaks not only for sustenance but for survival. Milk was processed into butter and cheese, staples that sustained households through long winters. Yak fibre was spun and woven into warm textiles, while the animals carried goods across mountain passes, linking remote settlements to trade routes. Seasonal migration patterns, social customs, and local festivals revolved around the rhythm of yak herding.

Residents recall a time when nearly every household owned between 50 and 60 milking yaks. Alpine slopes were dotted with large herds grazing across expansive tsamdro. The sound of yak bells echoing through valleys symbolized prosperity and resilience.
Today, the situation is markedly different. The remaining herders manage only 15 to 20 milking yaks per household, barely enough to generate modest returns. With fewer animals, milk production has declined significantly, reducing the volume of butter and cheese available for both household consumption and sale. Fibre production has also decreased, limiting opportunities for weaving and trade.

A herder said, “Yak herding used to sustain entire families. Now it is becoming harder every year just to manage basic needs.”
Limited and less productive grazing land has further constrained herd expansion. Compared to other highland regions, Roelmateng-Tsango has relatively small pasture areas. Years of concentrated grazing in limited zones have degraded rangelands, weakening grass regeneration and reducing fodder availability. This has created a cycle in which fewer yaks graze on increasingly fragile land, further diminishing pasture quality.

Climate variability has compounded these challenges. Herders report noticeable changes in snowfall and rainfall patterns over the years. Winters are less predictable, and snowfall, once relied upon to insulate pastures and ensure spring regeneration, has become irregular. Prolonged dry spells have reduced water availability, with streams drying earlier than before and alpine wetlands shrinking.

“Snowfall and rainfall are no longer like before. Streams are drying up, and glaciers are melting day by day,” said the Tshogpa.
Erratic weather patterns have disrupted traditional grazing routes, affecting yak health, milk yield, and reproductive performance. When pastures fail to regenerate properly, animals lose weight, fertility rates drop, and calves become more vulnerable to disease and harsh weather.

Predator losses present another persistent threat. With reduced manpower and vast grazing landscapes to monitor, herders face difficulties protecting their animals from wild predators, especially wolves. Annually, 20 to 30 yaks are lost to wild predators. Each loss carries significant economic impact, particularly when herd sizes are already small.
Labour shortage remains one of the most pressing concerns. As education opportunities expand and young people seek employment in urban centres, fewer are willing to continue the physically demanding lifestyle of yak herding. Seasonal migration to higher pastures, daily milking routines in freezing temperatures, and constant vigilance over livestock require stamina and commitment.

With only a small population remaining in the chiwog, herders struggle to find manpower during critical periods such as migration and fodder collection. The workload for those who remain has increased substantially, contributing to fatigue and discouragement.
Infrastructure limitations further isolate the community. Poor road connectivity restricts access to markets, veterinary services, and essential supplies. During medical emergencies, reaching health facilities can take considerable time. The absence of reliable electricity also hampers the adoption of improved dairy processing equipment and storage facilities that could enhance productivity.

As returns from yak herding decline, households have increasingly turned to cordyceps collection and sangzay as alternative income sources. While cordyceps provides substantial seasonal earnings, it is highly competitive and dependent on environmental conditions. It cannot replace the steady, year round support once provided by yak based livelihoods. Dependence on such uncertain income streams leaves families economically vulnerable.
Recognizing the growing challenges faced by highland herders, the Department of Livestock has been extending animal health services, supplying concentrated feed during critical shortages, and distributing tents to improve shelter and mobility during seasonal grazing. These measures aim to reduce livestock mortality and ease hardships faced in remote alpine areas.

The National Highland Development Center recently organized a four day yak wool harvesting training in Bumthang from February 10 to 13, 2026. The training focused on improving wool collection techniques, quality control, and value addition to help herders diversify their income. Officials believe that strengthening yak wool processing and marketing could create additional revenue streams and reduce reliance solely on dairy production.
Development partners, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Bhutan Yak Federation, are also promoting value addition initiatives in yak wool and dairy processing. Efforts include technical guidance, market linkage support, and awareness on sustainable rangeland management.

While these interventions offer some relief, herders say training and short term assistance alone will not reverse the decline. Long term sustainability, they stress, requires improved rangeland management policies, stronger veterinary outreach in remote areas, reliable power supply, better road connectivity, and consistent market access. Equally important is creating income opportunities attractive enough to encourage younger generations to remain in the highlands.

“We are trying our best to continue but without stronger support, it will be very difficult for the next generation to take this up,” another herder said.
As migration, economic pressures, and climate variability reshape Bhutan’s highlands, the decline of yak herding in Roelmateng-Tsango reflects a broader transition affecting traditional livelihoods. The future of this practice will depend on how effectively policy support, community resilience, and practical innovation can sustain both the animals and the highland communities that rely on them.