Ethnic and Cultural Diversity amongst Yak Herding Communities in the Asian Highlands

Abstract

Yak (Bos grunniens L.) herding plays an important role in the domestic economy throughout much of the Asian highlands. Yak represents a major mammal species of the rangelands found across the Asian highlands from Russia and Kyrgyzstan in the west to the Hengduan Mountains of China in the east. Yak also has great cultural significance to the people of the Asian highlands and is closely interlinked to the traditions, cultures, and rituals of the herding communities. However, increasing issues like poverty, environmental degradation, and climate change have changed the traditional practices of pastoralism, isolating and fragmenting herders and the pastures they have been using for many years. Local cultures of people rooted in the practice of yak herding are disappearing. Therefore, it is very important to document the socioeconomic and cultural aspects of yak herding. The broad aim of this paper was to provide a brief overview on the geographical distribution of yak in the Asian highlands and to provide in-depth information on yak-herding ethnic communities, the sociocultural aspect associated with yak herding, and challenges and emerging opportunities for yak herding in the Asian highlands. Altogether, 31 ethnic groups in 10 different countries of Asia and their cultures are documented herein. Yak was found to be utilized for many different household purposes, and to have cultural and religious aspects. Unfortunately, yak rearing and related traditions have been losing their charm in recent years due to modernization and several other environmental issues. Lastly, we suggest that there is an urgent need to take action to minimize the challenges faced by yak-herding mountain communities to conserve the traditional pastoral system and associated cultures of these ethnic communities.

Pastoralism in the highest peaks: Role of the traditional grazing systems in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function in the alpine Himalaya

“…According to the states 2012 livestock census the communities rear 951 heads of cattle, 2588 yaks, 141 horses, 230 sheep (indigenous variety) and 90 goats [ 49 ]. Historically both communities conducted trade and practiced pastoralism [ 50 , 51 ]. They used to take their yak and sheep upto Khambazong in TAR, China in summer and traded oil, sugar and fir planks for wool, barley flour ( tsampa ), salt, carpets, mutton and sheep fat.…”

Rumen Bacterial Community of Grazing Lactating Yaks (Poephagus grunniens) Supplemented with Concentrate Feed and/or Rumen-Protected Lysine and Methionine

“…They are raised between 3000 and 5000 m above sea level and are well adapted to the harsh conditions of the QTP. Yaks provide meat [ 2 ] and milk [ 3 , 4 ] for food, dung for fuel, and wool for clothes [ 5 ], and they serve as a cultural symbol for Tibetans [ 6 ]. They are also important in maintaining stability of the alpine ecosystem.…”

Yak Domestication: A Review of Linguistic, Archaeological, and Genetic Evidence

“…The domestic yak is present over a large area, spread over ten countries (Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, and Tajikistan; Joshi et al 2020) comprising a southern and a northern zone, linked in the west by the Pamir mountains, as shown in Figure 1 1 .…”