HIGH ALTITUDE PASTURE MANAGEMENT - A PREVENTIVE MEASURE FOR TRANSBOUNDARY AND ZOONOTIC DISEASES

Le résumé fourni par la source

Livestock rearing in high-altitude regions, particularly in the trans-Himalayan and Himalayan areas of India and neighbouring countries, has deep historical roots in traditional nomadic animal husbandry. Thriving in challenging conditions, this agricultural practice utilizes temperate and alpine pastures above 1500 meters as primary grazing resources for high-altitude animals like yak, yak-cattle hybrids, and hill cattle. Beyond a livelihood pursuit, this eco-friendly system significantly contributes to food and livelihood security for pastoral communities. Pastoral nomads heavily rely on natural pasturelands, strategically migrating between diverse pastures to optimize feed resource utilization. In the high-altitude Mountains, livestock rearing involves a migratory system, with nomads continuously moving with their herds in a transhumance. This includes a two-pasture strategy, grazing in lush summer pastures from May to September and transitioning to winter pastures with fodder trees at lower altitudes from November to February. The productivity of these animals is linked to herbage availability, growth, and nutritive values. Supplementary feeding is infrequent, peaking in July and August when grass quality and quantity reach their zenith. The traditional pastoralist lifestyle is transforming due to socio-political and land use changes in high-rangelands of Asia. Intensification of pasture use across borders has led nomads to embrace semi-sedentary livestock rearing alongside traditional transhumant pastoralism. Ensuring sustainable livestock production and preventing diseases in high-altitude rangelands requires proper management and utilization strategies for pastures. A comprehensive approach is necessary, considering dynamic socio-political and environmental factors influencing traditional practices of these pastoral communities.

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