The impact of traditional barley feed on natural livestock mortality in Ladakh and its implication on human-wildlife coexistence in the region

Abstract

This study examines the impact of traditional barley feed on livestock mortality in Chumur village, eastern Ladakh's Changthang region, and its role in fostering human-wildlife coexistence. Amid climate change, shrinking pastures due to border tensions, and reliance on suboptimal imported beta feed, pastoral Changpa herders face high kid mortality rates—averaging 15.35 per family pre-intervention—exacerbated by winter extremes reaching -24°C and competition from wildlife like kiang and predators such as wolves and snow leopards. Researchers from the University of Trans-Disciplinary Health Sciences and Technology provided 50 bags (60kg each) of barley to 21 of 25 households in June 2024. Post-intervention surveys revealed dramatic improvements: kid mortality dropped to 0.61 per family (381 births, only 13 deaths), with herders noting superior nutrition over beta feed, better animal health, and full utilization of barley without human consumption. These gains offset predation losses, softening herders' attitudes toward wildlife conservation and reducing pasture conflicts. The study advocates reviving local barley production to bolster livelihoods, pashmina yields, and sustainable pastoralism, urging collaboration with animal husbandry departments to replace beta with barley.