Context The yak-based transhumant system is influenced by socioeconomic developments, regulations and environmental changes. Little is known about the impact of this on yak farming practices among different regions in Bhutan. Aim and methods The experienced changes in yak farming practices over the years and perceptions on developments were assessed through interviews with yak herders in three regions (west, n = 22; central, n = 20; east, n = 25) and with livestock extensionists (n = 28). Key results At present, forage shortage in the rangeland, yak mortality mainly due to (endangered) wild predators and, to a lesser extent, labour availability are the main concerns in all yak farming regions. These concerns have increased due to socioeconomic developments (e.g. education and other sources of income) and strong conservation policy, which affects the living environment of the yaks. Overall, the market to sell yak products and livestock extension services has improved, but forage shortage and yak mortality has increased over the years. However, some factors causing forage shortage are more specific to certain regions, e.g. competition with the horse population (west), cattle and cattle–yak hybrids (east), cordyceps collection (west and central) and prohibited burning of rangelands (central and east). Family labour available to herd yaks has slightly decreased, and the number of young family members (successors) to take over yak farming has decreased over the years. Conclusions On the basis of the experiences and perceptions of yak herders and extensionists, we conclude that increasing forage shortage in the rangelands, decreasing numbers of successors, and increasing yak predation by wild animals are the major threats to yak farming. Implications This study demonstrates that yak farming in Bhutan experiences an increasing pressure to sustain. Differences between regions make clear that a one blanket-policy will not be effective to preserve yak farming for the future.

中文翻译：

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牧民和牲畜专业人员

背景 以牦牛为基础的过渡系统受到社会经济发展、法规和环境变化的影响。关于这对不丹不同地区的牦牛养殖实践的影响知之甚少。目标和方法 通过采访三个地区（西部，n = 22；中部，n = 20；东部，n = 25）的牦牛牧民和牲畜推广人员，评估了多年来牦牛养殖实践的变化和对发展的看法(n = 28)。主要结果 目前，牧场的草料短缺、主要由于（濒临灭绝的）野生食肉动物造成的牦牛死亡率以及在较小程度上的劳动力供应是所有牦牛养殖区的主要问题。由于社会经济发展（例如教育和其他收入来源）和强有力的保护政策，这些担忧有所增加，从而影响牦牛的生活环境。总体而言，牦牛产品和牲畜推广服务市场有所改善，但牧草短缺和牦牛死亡率逐年增加。然而，导致草料短缺的一些因素在某些地区更为特殊，例如与马群（西部）、牛和牛-牦牛杂交种（东部）、虫草收集（西部和中部）和禁止焚烧牧场（中部和东部）的竞争。 ）。可用于放牧牦牛的家庭劳动力略有减少，并且多年来接管牦牛养殖的年轻家庭成员（继任者）数量有所减少。结论 根据牦牛牧民和推广人员的经验和看法，我们得出结论，牧场中日益短缺的草料，继任者数量的减少，越来越多的牦牛被野生动物捕食是牦牛养殖的主要威胁。影响 本研究表明，不丹的牦牛养殖面临着越来越大的维持压力。地区之间的差异清楚地表明，单一的一揽子政策不会有效地保护未来的牦牛养殖。