DoL Launches Equine Development Strategy to Revitalize Bhutan’s Horse Sector

The Department of Livestock (DoL), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, has launched the Equine Development Strategy and Action Plan 2025, aimed at revitalizing Bhutan’s equine sector and conserving indigenous horse breeds.

Bhutan’s equine population has declined from 24,333 in 2006 to 10,499 in 2024, representing an average annual decrease of 4.9 percent over the last 18 years. Officials attribute the decline largely to expanding road connectivity and reduced reliance on equines for transport.

Despite this trend, equines remain important for eco-tourism, highland livelihoods, and religious and cultural ceremonies, particularly in dzongkhags such as Gasa, Thimphu, and Paro, which continue to maintain higher equine populations.

The strategy is implemented through the National Equine Farm (NEF) in Nasphel, Bumthang, which currently manages 84 equines on 57.99 acres of registered land, including 45 acres of improved pasture. The farm maintains local Yuta horses, Spiti horses imported from India, as well as donkeys and mules.

Key interventions under the strategy include genetic improvement through pure-line and crossbreeding, strengthened community-based breeding programs, and enhanced institutional capacity. In July 2024, Bhutan also received 300 doses of frozen Mongolian stallion semen to improve genetic diversity in the national horse population.

By the end of the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plans, the Department aims to increase annual horse production from 5 to 40 animals and mule production from 5 to 25 animals, while maintaining dedicated equines for religious institutions and the Royal stable.

The Equine Development Strategy and Action Plan 2025 is expected to contribute to sustainable livelihoods, preserve Bhutan’s cultural heritage, and ensure a resilient future for the country’s equine sector.

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Three young Bhutanese yak herder women, led by the Chief Livestock Officer, represented Bhutan at the Asian Pastoralists Women Gathering held in Ahmedabad, India.

16.12.2025: Three young Bhutanese yak herder women, led by the Chief Livestock Officer, represented Bhutan at the Asian Pastoralists Women Gathering held in Ahmedabad, India. During the gathering, the young herders shared Bhutan’s rich pastoral culture and traditions, highlighting the central role of women in yak herding communities. They spoke about their lived experiences as pastoralists, including the challenges posed by climate change, rising temperatures, shrinking grazing areas, and their impacts on livelihoods in the Himalayan region.

The Chief Livestock Officer presented Bhutan’s policy framework on pastoralism and outlined government support aimed at strengthening rangeland management, enhancing yak-based livelihoods, and improving the resilience of pastoral communities. He also emphasized the critical role of women in pastoral households—as decision-makers, resource managers, and custodians of culture and tradition.

The Asian Pastoralists Women Gathering brought together over 150 representatives and community elders from 12 countries to discuss the growing challenges facing rangelands and pastoral livelihoods across Asia. The event focused on reviewing and updating the Mera Declaration of 2010 and developing a shared regional strategy, particularly in light of 2026 being designated the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists.

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