The Changing Face of Cattle Raising and Forest Grazing in the Bhutan Himalaya

Wangchuk, Kesang; Wurzinger, María; Darabant, András; Gratzer, Georg; Zollitsch, Werner

doi:10.1659/mrd-journal-d-13-00021.1

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This creates a complex tsamdro resource-sharing mechanism between the high-and low-altitude pastoralists. Consequently, the tsamdro lacks a sufficient period for natural regeneration of forage, thereby decreasing the forage productivity and leading to grazing rights conflicts (Wangchuk et al 2014). …”

Section: Potential Catalysts For Tsamdro Resource Use Conflictsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Good fences are key to sustainable pasture management and harmonious pastoral society of Merak and Sakteng in Bhutan

Wangdi

Norbu

2018

Pastoralism

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There is limited knowledge about the traditional tsamdro management practice, particularly the building of walls and fences by the pastoral nomads of Merak and Sakteng. Conflicts related to tsamdro resource access are not a new phenomenon in Bhutanese pastoral communities. In the recent past, as an adaptive response to external economic, political, social and ecological changes, the tsamdro was nationalized. This change in policies brought a host of challenges specifically in managing the existing and building new tsamdro border structures. The objective of the study was to elucidate the motives and purposes behind the building of tsamdro structures, and to explore the historical development, significance and future of yak farming by Brokpas. We used a semi-structured questionnaire and face-to-face interview for collecting both quantitative and qualitative data from 40 yak herders opportunistically selected from both Merak and Sakteng gewogs, village block, refers to a group of villages in Bhutan Trashigang district. The study revealed that tsamdro border structures were primarily built to ensure harmony within the Brokpa society by reducing conflicts caused by livestock trespassing, but structures indirectly assisted in tsamdro management. The structures were one of the encashable family assets passed across generations and played a critical role in shaping the socio-economic developments of Brokpas. Though the tsamdro was nationalized, the Brokpas still continue to hold tsamdro ownership rights and build new tsamdro border structures to protect their livelihood. The contradiction between the government's policy and Brokpas' livelihood pattern will have a detrimental effect on both the social harmony of nomadic herders and the traditional tsamdro management practice. We suggest the government develop nomadic-centered policies that encourage tsamdro resource sharing within the Brokpa communities. Socio-economic development incentives are required to address the trespassing conflicts.

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Section: Potential Catalysts For Tsamdro Resource Use Conflictsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Good fences are key to sustainable pasture management and harmonious pastoral society of Merak and Sakteng in Bhutan

Wangdi

Norbu

2018

Pastoralism

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“…The currently used livestock unit body weight may apply for the local cattle but not for the exotic breeds of cattle. This holds true since Wangchuk et al (2014) also estimated the body weight of local cattle at about 300 kg. Based on the standard livestock unit with body weight of 300 kg, this study shows that one adult Brown Swiss animal equates to 1.56 livestock units and one adult Jersey Cross cattle to 1.28 livestock units.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…This probably explains why Schaeffer's formula is widely applied by livestock producers in determining the cattle body weight. Therefore, the body weight of local Bhutanese cattle estimated at about 300 kg with Schaeffer's formula by Wangchuk et al (2014) appears to be a good estimate. Good estimates of live body weights using linear measurements have been demonstrated (Mohammad et al 2012;Eyduran et al 2013;Ali et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Comparison and reliability of techniques to estimate live cattle body weight

Wangchuk

Wangdi

Mindu

2017

Journal of Applied Animal Research

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Five different techniques of estimating the live cattle body weight were evaluated with the objective to identify the most reliable technique for use in the field. Weighbridge was used as the reference for other techniques. The measurement techniques evaluated were Weighbridge, Weigh tape, Rondo tape, Schaeffer's formula, Agarwal's formula, and calculator method. The body weights of 89 Brown Swiss and 34 Jersey Cross cattle were estimated by each technique. Compared with Weighbridge, the body weight estimates in Brown Swiss cattle exceeded by about 70 and 66 kg for Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape, respectively. In Jersey Cross cattle, the estimates exceeded by about 122 and 84 kg for Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape, respectively. In both breeds, the estimates of Schaeffer's formula were not significantly different from the Weighbridge. The estimates of weight tape were also not significantly different from the Weighbridge although the estimates exceeded by over 21 kg in Brown Swiss cattle and over 44 kg in Jersey Cross cattle. The study concluded that Schaeffer's formula is the most reliable of all techniques to estimate live body weight of cattle, followed by weigh tape. Agarwal's formula and Rondo tape are less reliable and their use in the field must be discontinued. ARTICLE HISTORY

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“…In Bhutan, due to the short supply of fodder and small per capita landholding averaging less than half an acre (NSB 2015b), people are compelled to release their livestock, especially cattle, to the nearby forests for grazing (Wangchuk et al 2014). Such a situation naturally predisposes livestock to predation.…”

Section: Importance Of Proper Livestock Herding and Its Challengesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing livestock herding practices of agro-pastoralists in western Bhutan: Livestock vulnerability to predation and implications for livestock management policy

Tshering

Thinley²

2017

Pastoralism

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As in many developing countries, agro-pastoralism is the major form of livelihood for rural communities in the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Although livestock rearing is part and parcel of rural Bhutanese agricultural system, Bhutan also has a high percentage of natural forest cover that supports a diversity of endangered wild predators. The loss of cattle to these predators is an on-going source of conflict between predators, farmers, and wildlife managers. Despite awareness of predation losses, there has been no empirical assessment of livestock herding practices in Bhutan in terms of livestock vulnerability to predation. We conducted a questionnaire and a field survey in three districts of western Bhutan to assess current livestock herding practices with regard to predation vulnerability. We interviewed farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire to determine their livestock herding practices and losses. We also traversed human trails in the nearby forests and took note of livestock encountered to gain further insights into herding dynamics. Generally, livestock were more vulnerable to predation when released into the forests without accompanying herders. Seasonally, livestock were more vulnerable during summer and early autumn, which coincided with the peak farming period during which animals are typically released into forests with minimal care. Our study underscores the importance of livestock herding with accompanying herders to minimize predation losses and highlights the challenges posed by farm labour shortage in rural areas. We recommend developing a comprehensive livestock management policy that includes elaborate provisions on reducing livestock losses through livestock herd management, stock improvement, fodder development, pasture development, and sustainable livestock insurance schemes.

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The Changing Face of Cattle Raising and Forest Grazing in the Bhutan Himalaya

Cited by 20 publications

References 9 publications

Good fences are key to sustainable pasture management and harmonious pastoral society of Merak and Sakteng in Bhutan

Good fences are key to sustainable pasture management and harmonious pastoral society of Merak and Sakteng in Bhutan

Comparison and reliability of techniques to estimate live cattle body weight

Assessing livestock herding practices of agro-pastoralists in western Bhutan: Livestock vulnerability to predation and implications for livestock management policy

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