High Altitude Pastoral System Study of Sailung Rangeland
Kishor Kumar Shrestha & Dinesh Pariyar
Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur
Introduction
There is large number of rangelands in Ramechap districts. Sailung is one among most
of the high altitude rangeland in Ramechap district. These rangelands are the basic source of
animal products for urban areas. They support more than 300 Chauries and are famous for its
economical support to about 16 herders of Ramechap and Dolakha districts. A total of 303
chauries, 5 bulls and 128 sheep and goats are provided feed annually from different pasture land
of Sailung. These animals in return provide milk, meat, wool and hides. Contribution of a chauri
alone is estimated at NRs. 4952/ year. The other unique character of the rearing system is the
involvement of different ethnic people, e.g. Sherpa, Tamang and Sreshtha from Ramechap and
Dolakha districts. It was felt essential to study this unique traditional system where chauri
rearing is accepted as a commercial industry and different ethnic people work together as herders
and lead a better life. It is also envisaged that this study will come out with important but useful
findings which will benefit the highland pastorolists of other part of the country. After
identification of the major constraints and problems a participatory approach and technical
intervention was made through Temperate Pasture and Fodder Working Group which will try to
establish a strong linkage between herders, researchers and extensionists to upgrade, conserve
and maintain higher production from the existing herds .
Objectives
* To study the traditional pastoral system of the high altitude rangelands.
* To identify major constraints and problems of rearing Chauri.
* To study productivity and condition of different pasturelands.
Methodology
The study was conducted from interviews of the herders, field survey and sample collection and
their analysis. Standard formats were developed to collect information on socio-economic
condition, production and utilization of rangelands, livestock production and marketing and
stopover/camping points. A standard format was also developed in order to collect major plant
species from each camping point for its botanical identification. A quadrate of 0.25m2 was
randomly used in order to assess the green matter productivity of the native species. A
representative soil samples of about 1 kg upto 20 cm depth was collected from each
grazingland for its analysis
13
Description of Grazinglands
The rangelands are located in between 2500 to 3100 masl in Sailung area These rangelands are
veriable in size, elevation, aspect, slope and area. Rangelands up to the elevation of 2800 meter
are located in the vicinity of the forest area while above these elevations the rangelands are
called as open (without any tree). Description of the rangelands of the area is presented in Table1.
Table 1 : Description of Grazinglands
Soil
Type
S.N. Name
Grazinglands
of Grazing Elevation
Area ( ( masl )
ha )
Baske
12 ha
2690 m
Thulachulighati
8 ha
2750 m
Kaberkaji
8 ha
2850
Panichour lower 10 ha
2600 - 2650
Jhakrithal
10 ha
2820 m
Todkepani
9ha
2820 m
Balbisani pani
11 ha
2970 m
Mulkharka
22 ha
2950 m
Kholakharka
10 ha
2920 m
Panichour upper
16 ha
2900 - 2920 m
Thulochuli
9 ha
2820 m
Dhanbir
8ha
2600-2900
Dhodale
12ha
2700-2780
Bagdhunga
25ha
3100
Aspect
Average
Slope
pH
Major
Landforms
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
SN
NE
E.W
S.W
W
N-W
S.E
S.E
West
E.W
E-S
S-E
S-E
10-12 %
20 - 25%
25-30 %
30 - 35%
20-25 %
35-40
35%
10 - 20%
40%
40%
45%
40-45%
40-45%
40-45%
5.9
5.2
5.2
4.7
5.2
5.0
5.2
4.9
5.4
5.2
5.3
5.8
4.9
5.0
SF
SF
SH
SH
SF
SH
SS
SF
SF
FL
SH
SH
SH
H
Soil sample analysis
13-soil samples were collected from different grazinglands and analyzed. All nutrients (K2O,
OM, N) except phosphorous are high and soil is acidic (table.2)
Table 2. Soil Sample Analysis
1.
Grazingland
pH
Available
K2O kg/ha
OM %
Total N%
Available
P2O5kg/ha
Dhodale
4.85
466(H)
16.6(H)
0.46(H)
20.6(L)
14
2.
Mulkharka
4.95
4.32(H
6.73(H)
0.36(H)
20.6(L)
3.
Panichour Upper
5.20
1152(H)
13(H)
0.5(H)
10.3(L)
4.
Kabakaji
5.25
278(M)
18.22(H)
0.54(H)
10.3(L)
5.
Thulchulighed
5.25
326(H)
6.4(H)
0.29(H)
10.3(L)
6.
Khola kharka
5.35
950(H)
6.93(H)
0.32(H)
30.9(L)
7.
Barke
5.90
216(M)
7.19(H)
0.35(H)
10.3(L)
8.
Dhanrir
5.75
283(M)
7.13(H)
0.92(H)
20.6(L)
9.
Panichour Lower
4.70
341(H)
7.26(H)
0.35(H)
10.3(L)
10. Sailung
5.05
235(M)
7.13(H)
0.33(H)
10.3(L)
11. Thakrithal
5.20
912(H)
7.19(H)
0.36(H)
41.2(L)
12. Todkepani
5.00
537(H)
6.93(H)
0.29(H)
20.6(L)
13. Balbeseni Pani
5.15
1306(H)
14.07(H)
0.48(H)
20.6(L)
Average
5.20
538.95
9.60
0.43
18.22
Stopover / Camping points ( Definite and long-term)
There are three distinct and definite camping points being used by 16 herds in two major
seasons, winter and summer. The route for each herd is fixed throughout the year. The three
camping points, based on its utilization, are called as winter ( November to February),
Transitional while going up in March and April and coming back in September and October
and Summer camping in May and August. There are four distinct routs and, in general 3-4 herds
follow one fixed route (Table-3 )
Table 3 : Definite Routes and Camping Points of the herds of Sailung.
Camping point
Winter Camping
Points
(
NovemberFebruary )
Transitional
Camping
Point(MarchApril and SeptOctober)
Summer
Camping point
(May-August)
Grazing
location
Baske
Lands
and
ThuloChulighati
Thulchuli
/
Jhakhrithal
Grazing Lands and
location
Kuruban
Grazing Lands and
location
Vitre lower
Grazing
location
Dovan
Kaberkaji
Vitre upper
Panichaur
khola
lower/Vitre
Todkepani/
Balbisni
Mulkharka
Balbisni
Kholakharka
Panichaur
Thapleriti
upper/
/
/
Lands
and
15
Duration of camping points
In winter the herds stay in the lower areas for about 4 months while in summer they spend 4
months in the highest areas . During their course of shifting from one seasonal grazing land to
another these herds use the traditional grazing land for about 4 months ( in March - April and
September - October ).The distance between two camping points is about 1-2 hours walk.
While camping in summer and in transitional points Chauries use grazinglands of either
camping point.
Animal Types and Their Population
Chauries are the main breed and each herd contains 20 Chauries. Among other ruminants,
goats and sheep are reared for additional income. On an average each herd contains 4 goats and 4
sheep. Generally 3 herds use one breeding bull for mating, about 50% herds rear poultry also
(Table -4 )
Table 4 : Animal herd composition
S.N.
Name
of
Address
1.
Kul Bdr. Tamang
Dudhpokhari, Dolkha
Tul Bdr. Tamang
Gausar, Ramechhap
Duwa Narbu Sherpa
Shyama-4, Dolkha
Pasang Tengi Sherpa
Shyama, Dolkha
Gyali Sherpa
Jiri, Dolkha
Jit Bdr. Tamang
Gausar, Ramechhap
Chadri Tamang
Gauser, Ramechhap
Chiring Name Sherpa
Jugu, Dolkha
Narbu Sherpa
Daduwa, Ramechhap
Karma Sherpa
Chuchure, Ramechhap
Dawa Sherpa
Daduwa, Ramechhap
Lakpa Sherpa
Daduwa, Ramechhap
Karma Sherpa
Daduwa, Ramechhap
Temba Sherpa
Gauser, Ramechhap
Pasang Tenjing Sherpa
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Farmer
and Nos.
of Milking
Chauri
Local bull
Sheep
Goat
Poultry
16
6
-
-
-
-
16
12
1
-
-
-
28
28
1
-
-
4
17
10
-
-
-
6
23
18
-
-
-
5
21
10
-
60
13
-
9
6
-
-
-
-
18
12
1
-
-
-
27
15
1
-
15
-
10
8
-
-
-
5
29
18
-
-
27
-
29
25
1
-
-
6
14
8
-
-
-
-
28
25
-
-
13
5
18
16
-
-
-
3
16
Shyama, Dolkha
Total :
303
217
5
60
68
34
Breeding and calving pattern :The main breeding season for Chauries is summer in June -July. Calving takes place after 9
months generally in February -March. Although green feed scarcity is acute, farmers prefer
calving during this period due to good money obtained from off season production. In
case of sheep and goats, 3 kidding / lambing in two years is common in high land pastoral area.
Lambing is generally in the month of September - October and in March - April particularly in
the lower belt of the range lands, where kidding twice a year is common.
Health care and mortality
Occasional cases of Mastitis and Foot and Mouth Disease are seen in Chauries. Lambs /
kids sometimes are seriously affected by pneumonia.
Livestock Products
Milk and its product
Milk and milk products are major source of income of these herders. The milk is
used , for making chhurpi and butter. During the lactation period of 8-9 months, on an
average, a chauri gives ½ liters milk / day during peak period and ½ liter / day during dry
season. Chhurpi is produced from skimmed milk after separation of cream from milk by
cream separator and through local procedures. A chauri produces 15 kg of Chhurpi and 19Kg butter per year, which are sold to the middle man @ NRs.130 and NRs.158 per kg
respectively.
Animal sales
Sale of chauri is not common. Calves are killed within 3 to 7 days of its birth in order to get
continued milk production. Sale of sheep and goats is very rare as these are being used for meat
purposes. In order to establish a new herd 10-20 chauris are purchased from Solukhumbu District
through traders and generally the cost per chauri is fixed on the basis of age. 3-5 year old chauri
will cost NRs.12000-15000 and it is kept for upto 12 years of age.
Wool
Wool is the important product of sheep and is sheared twice in a year in Feb. - Mar
and Sept- October. An adult sheep produces 500-700 g/ sheep/year. Local equipment (e.g.
scissors) are used to shear the wool. Wool is used for making Radi and Pakhi for
herders own use.
Manures
Collection of manure from the camping points of high altitude and transitional rangeland is not
common. However, while camping on winter camping points, villagers from near by
villages collect manure for use in their field crops.
17
Hides
The skin of the calves is used as bedding .
Marketing
There is no Cheese factory, therefore, milk selling is not practiced. The collected milk is
used for making Chhurpi and cream. There are two contractors who collect chhurpi and
butter from Chauri farmers and bring it to Kathmandu for selling. Until now the herders
did not have any marketing problem for their products. The price of Chhurpi and butter
per kg is Rs. 130 /- and Rs. 158 /- respectively. A total income of NRs. 4952 is obtained
annually from the sale of chauri products. The marketing of animal products continues for 7
- 8 months from April to Oct. A herd owner earns an annual income of Rs. 60,000 /- to
Rs. 150,000 / year depending on the number of chauris he owns.
Feeding and Grazing
All the ruminants of the herd are reared solely on available forage from the grazing lands in a
complete transhumant system of rearing. Rotational system of grazing is prevalent . In winter
season , duration of grazing is shorter i.e. 5-6 hours while longer grazing hour ( 8-9) is prevalent
in summer season. The herders bring chauris to the camping points from grazing land for
milking. The animals stay around the shed at night.
Although chauri industry is dependent on the available resources of grazinglands, there is
feed scarcity for three months ( Jan - March) . During that period maize flour is boiled and
then cooled and mixed with the salt to feed the animals. The lactating Chauries are fed
salt and flour daily. About 40 - 50 kg maize flour is fed to one Chauri in one year and
salt is provided @ 100 gm / day.
Fodder Trees
The practice of feeding fodder trees is very rare. Chauri farmers feed the tree fodder to
the chauris only for 2 to 10 days after calving. The availability of tree fodder on
grazinglands is also very rare. The available tree fodder is lopped by the villagers in
winter months and Chauri farmers have got little chance to lop the fodder. The fodder
trees found on the grazinglands are Quercus sp., Sirlinge sp. and Sisi sp. The annual
productivity of these tree fodder is less than one Bhari (30 - 40 kg / tree ) from Quercus tree
and one bhari from 3 to 4 Sisi and Sirlinge sp.
Grazing
Botanical Composition
A total of 45 native plant species have been collected from the different grazing lands of
Sailung. The dominant species are Danthonie cachemyriana, Agrostis sp. Potentilla fulgens,
Duchesnea indica, Onychium sp.(table.5)
18
Table .5 Botanical identification of the plants
Site
No.
Species
Family
Baske
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Dhodale
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Panichour
"
"
"
"
Kholakharka
"
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
Ophiopogon intermedius D. Don
Hypericum elodeoides Choisy
Agrostis sp. ?
Arthraxon lancifolius (Trin.) Hochst.
Potentilla fulgens Wall
Aconitum sp.
Juncus sp.
Carex sp.
Danthonia cachemyriana Jaub. et Spach
Swertia chirayita ( Roxb.) Karsten
Agrostis nervosa Nees ex Trin
Sarcococca hookeriana Baillon
"
Rubia manjith Roxb. ex Fleming
Agrostis pilosula Trin.
Grass Eulaliopsis binata
?
Eragrostis pilosa (Linn.) P. B eauv.
Galinsoga parviflora CV.
Digitaria sp. ?
Comedian sp.
Oryzopsis lateralis (Regel) Stapf
Helictorichon virescens (Nees ex Steud.) Henr.
Bistorta amplexicaulis (D. Don) Greene
Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke
?
Quercus semecarpifolia Sm.
Anaphalis triplinervis (Sims) C. B. Clarke
Anaphalis contorta (D. Don) Hook. f.
Carex longipes D. Don
Dipsacus inermis Wall
Onychium sp. ?
Cyathula sp. ?
Globba racemosa Sm.
Corylus jacqemontii Decne.
Lindera pulcherrima (Nees) Benth. ex Hook. f.
Carex nubigena D. Don
Ilex dipyrena Wall
Carex nubigena D. don
Rabdosia coetsa (Buch. - Ham. ex D. Don) Hara
Arundinaria racemosa Munro
Liliaceae
Hypericaceae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Rosaceae
Ranunculaceae
Juncacea
Cyperacea
Gramineae
Gentianaceae
Gramineae
Buxaceae
Labiatae
Rubiaceae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Compositae
Gramineae
Compositae
Gramineae
Commelinacae
Gramineae
Gramineae
Polygonaceae
Rosaceae
Fagaceae
Compositae
Compositae
Cyperaceae
Dispacaneae
Petridaceae
Amaranthaceae
Zingiberaceae
Cyperaceae
Lauraceae
Cyperaceae
Aquifoliaceae
Cyperaceae
Labiatae
Gramineae
Common
name
Unknown
"
"
"
Mulajhari
Kukurapaile
Mothe
Unknown
"
Chiraito
Unknown
"
"
"
"
Babiyo
Unknown
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Bhuikafel
Sirlinge
Khasru
Unknown
Bukifool
Harkata
Julo
Chirro
Datiwan
Sar
Unknown
Siske
Unknown
Gobleso
Unknown
"
Jhapra
"
"
"
"
42.
43.
44.
45.
Aconogonum campanulatum (Hook. f. ) Hara
Strobilanthes sp.
Trisetum spicatum (L.) Richt.
?
Plygonaceae
Acanthaceae
Gramineae
-
Unknown
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
19
Biomass
Biomass estimation was done in 4 grazing lands of summer, 6 grazing lands of transitional and 1
grazing land of winter grazing land using 0.25m2 quadrates. On an average 1.9 t green
biomass/ha was recorded (Table-6.). Biomass yield in cage was 9.4 t/ha in September.
Table 6: Green Biomass production
Biomass
S.N.
Name
Grazinglands
of Grazing
Elevation
Area
( ( masl )
ha )
12 ha
2690 m
1
Baske
2
Thulachulighati
8 ha
3
Kaberkaji
4
Remarks
Aspect
Average
Slope
Gram/sam Ton /ha.
pled area
SN
10-12 %
68
2.7
Sampled
2750 m
NE
20 - 25%
50
2.0
in
8 ha
2850
-
25-30 %
63
2.5
October
Panichour lower
10 ha
2600 - 2650
E.W
30 - 35%
45
1.8
5
Jhakrithal
10 ha
2820 m
S.W
20-25 %
25
1.0
6
Todkepani
9ha
2820 m
W
35-40
88
3.5
7
Balbisani pani
11 ha
2970 m
N-W
35%
44
1.8
8
Mulkharka
22 ha
2950 m
S.E
10 - 20%
36
1.4
9
Kholakharka
10 ha
2920 m
S.E
40%
30
1.2
10
Panichour upper
16 ha
2900 - 2920 m
West
40%
35
1.4
11
Thulochuli
9 ha
2820 m
E.W
45%
30
1.2
Toxic species and serious weeds
It has been reported by farmers that there is no problem of weeds and toxic plants in the
grazing lands. Sometimes when young leaves of Angeri and Chyatu plants are eaten
bloating in the animals occurs.
Range condition
The condition of grazinglands is poor . These are overgrazed, almost look like an open land
rather a rangeland. An increase of unpalatable shrubs and inedible plants are deteriorating the
productivity of grazinglands.
There is no problem of watering points except at Bagdhunga as reported by farmers.
Bagdhunga is a summer grazingland and monsoon rainfall is the only water resource . At
upper Panichour during dry period of April and May scarcity of water is common..
20
Grazing rights
There are no specific grazing rights after 1989. The Chauri farmers pay taxes annually as
decided by the chairman and member of Village Development Committee and the money is
used for schools, roads, and social welfare etc. There is no fixed rate but in general each
herd has to pay NRs 1000 - 1200.annually. Before 1989, District Forest Office used to fix the
grazing rights.
Socio-economic status :
The herder’s family is made up of almost equal proportion of males and females. 57% of the
members are adult while 43% are young. Literacy rate is very poor in male population i.e. 20%
and extremely poor or negligible in females i.e. 2.2%. Ten herdsmen own a total 175 of
ropanies (8.75 ha.) of cultivated land. Among cereals, Wheat, Maize and Fingermillet are
cultivated and produce 43 muri (3t) Wheat, 77 muri Maize (5.4 t) and 35 muri (2.2 t)
Fingermillet. On an average, annually, 1.2 t of grain per hectare is produced. Since an adult
person requires 623 kg of cereal grain for a year, the produce of 10.6 t in 8.75 ha is enough for
17 adults ( Table 7). It indicates the dependency of people towards more income generating
industry i.e. Chauri rearing .
Table 7 : Household size and Cereal Production (Muri)
S.No. Name of the farmers
Family
Family members Total
M
F
1.
Kul Bdr. Tamang
1
3
4
<Age Group
1<15
>15
5
2
2
Literacy Land
rate
Ropani
M
F
10
Prod in Prod in Prod in
Muri
Muri Muri
Wheat Maize Millet
2
7
3
2.
Tul Bdr. Tamang
4
1
5
3
2
3.
Duwa Narbu Sherpa
4
5
9
6
3
4.
Pasang Tenzi Sherpa
3
2
5
3
2
5.
Pasang Tenzi Sherpa
2
1
3
1
2
6.
Gyali Sherpa
3
4
7
5
2
-
3
1
2
1
7.
Jit Bdr. Tamang
4
3
7
4
3
3
25
3
6
6
8.
Chadri Tamang
1
2
3
1
2
-
-
-
9.
Chiring Name Sherpa
3
2
5
3
2
-
20
7
10.
Narbu Sherpa
3
7
10
8
2
1
7
2
11.
Karma Sherpa
3
3
6
2
4
2
10
8
6
2
12.
Dawa Sherpa
4
3
7
4
3
2
5
12
3
4
13.
Lakpa Sherpa
3
3
6
2
4
2
5
-
2
14.
Karma Sherpa
4
1
5
3
2
1
10
-
3
15.
Temba Sherpa
4
4
8
4
4
3
80
15
50
20
Total :
46
44
90
51
39
18
175
43
77
35
-
-
3
-
-
1
-
2
2
1 hectare = 20 ropani. Wheat 1 Muri = 69.6 kg, Wheat 1 Muri = 69.6 kg
Wheat 1 Muri = 69.6 kg, Maize 1 Muri = 69.60 kg, Millet 1 Muri = 62.40 kg
21
Consnstraints
The major constraints of pastoral system found in Sailung high altitude rangelands are
 over grazing of pasture land.
 nearer distance of camping points, about half an hour.
 poor regrowth of grass species.
 lack of fodder trees and tree fodder during lean periods
 more number of animals on grazinglands
 the settlements of village are found near to the grazinglands.
 small area of grazinglands.
 lack of watering point at Bagdhunga grazinglands.
 grazing right not being fixed.
 Destruction of forests by villagers.
 Location of village animal shed (cattle and buffalo) on the grazinglands.
Suggestion by herders








decrease animal numbers
control animals sheds
control grazing
plantation of fodder trees
introduction of improved forage sps. for increasing milk yield.
Fixation of grazing rights by Government.
Providing watering point at Bhagdhunga grazingland.
Clear demarcation of forestry area (community and leasehold forest)
22