Mountain territories and mountain livestock breeding: status and prospects for sustainable development (review)

Abstract

A large part of the mountainous areas, to which the Kyrgyz Republic belongs, still have medium to high levels of poverty. The population does not have access to sufficient and high-quality food with a corresponding violation of the nutrition structure. As a consequence, there are multiple health problems, especially among children and women. One of the ways to solve the poverty problem of mountain communities is the development of mountain cattle breeding with a focus on breeding yaks and their hybrids – khainak. They are well adapted to life at high altitudes, do not require premises, or feed, and provide inexpensive and high-quality food such as meat and milk. The organization of meat and dairy processing in the field will not only improve the nutrition structure of the most vulnerable part of the population, but also provide jobs, and therefore improve the quality of life.