Welfare of Animals in High-Altitude Yak Herding Systems

Yak herding in Himalayan and Central Asian highland ecosystems involves animals adapted to extreme conditions but facing new welfare challenges from climate change and intensification.

Key Facts

An estimated 15 million yaks are herded across the Himalayan plateau, Tibetan plateau, and Central Asian highlands
Yaks are highly adapted to cold, hypoxia, and sparse grazing but suffer significantly when moved to lower altitudes
Climate change is reducing high-altitude grazing season length, forcing herders into new management practices
Intensification pressure is driving some yak producers toward supplementary feeding and confined housing that yaks are not adapted for
Yak crossbreeding with cattle produces animals less adapted to cold and altitude, increasing welfare risks in highland systems

Welfare Considerations

Yak herding represents a millennia-old relationship between humans, animals, and high-altitude ecosystems that climate change is now destabilizing. Yaks adapted to extreme cold and altitude begin to suffer when they encounter the conditions — heat, humidity, low-altitude pathogens — that intensification and climate shift bring. The welfare implications of the transition away from traditional nomadic herding toward more settled, intensive systems are significant and deserve attention alongside the cultural and livelihoods dimensions.

What You Can Do

Support research into climate-resilient yak herding systems that maintain animal welfare
Advocate for international climate adaptation funding to support high-altitude herding communities
Choose yak products from traditional, certified sustainable herding operations where available
Donate to organizations working with Himalayan and Central Asian herding communities on climate adaptation