Arya News - Most villagers have now shifted focus to potato cultivation, finding sheep rearing too time-consuming and labour-intensive, while younger generations migrate to urban areas.
THIMPHU – Once home to thousands of sheep, Phobjikha Valley in Wangdue is witnessing a decline in its sheep population, now estimated at a mere 350.
This sharp drop indicates the nearing disappearance of traditional sheep farming in the valley, a shift away from a way of life deeply rooted in Phobjikha’s culture, as villagers increasingly turn to more profitable crops and the younger generation migrates to urban areas.
Bhutan’s sheep population is genetically classified into four distinct types: Jakar, Sipsu, Sarpang, and Sakten. The Jakar variety, believed to be native to Phobjikha and found only in Bumthang and Trongsa, is currently at particular risk.
The livestock extension agent of Phobjikha Gewog, Bhim Bahadur Subba, reported that the area had over 2,000 sheep in 2013. However, the number has steadily declined over the years.
He attributed this to changing lifestyles, stating that while sheep rearing was once a tradition, most villagers have now shifted their focus to potato cultivation, finding sheep rearing too time-consuming and labor-intensive.
The decline has also been worsened by frequent attacks from feral dogs, as well as occasional attacks by bears and other wild animals.
“The migration of young people to urban areas in search of better opportunities has left mostly elderly residents in the villages, which poses a challenge to the conservation of sheep in the near future,” said Bhim Bahadur Subba.
Currently, about 351 sheep are being reared in two chiwogs in Phobjikha, primarily cared for by elderly villagers. There is a concern that once this remaining flock disappears, the valley might be entirely without any sheep.
“Sheep rearing is not a lucrative business, and the lack of tsamdro (pastureland), along with the fact that only elderly people are involved, are major hurdles to preserving the native sheep in the gewog,” Bhim Bahadur Subba said.
Phobjikha Gup Jamtsho, recalled a time, about 30 years ago, when each household would rear as many as 200 sheep. Parents would convert wool into blankets and clothing for their children, providing warmth during harsh winters.
“I remember my father making a gho for me from the wool,” he said, lamenting that it no longer happens.
Jamtsho added that farmers’ preference for cultivating potatoes due to its more reliable source of income compared to sheep rearing, which is exhausting and time-consuming due to the need for constant supervision to protect the sheep from attacks.
Most of the sheep are now sold, he said, “Sheep rearing is not very profitable, as a kilogram of wool sells for only Nu 450-500,” Jamtsho said.
To conserve the native sheep, the Samdrup Phuentshog Lug Detshen was established in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Centre, and equipment, including a wool-shredding machine, was distributed to farmers. However, this initiative did not succeed.
Despite sheep manure being known as highly nutritious for the soil, farmers have abandoned the practice due to the challenges and difficulties involved in managing them.
Khemdro Chiwog Tshogpa Norbu said that most sheep are now being sold to Bumthang, although the reason for this trend remains unclear.
He added that currently, only three households in chiwog are rearing sheep.
A once-common tradition of taking sheep to summer grazing grounds in the Black Mountains, where yak herders would look after them, has nearly vanished. Most yak herders have sold their yaks, with only one individual continuing the practice.
According to the Integrated Agriculture and Livestock Census of Bhutan 2025, Phobjikha recorded a total of 351 local sheep (96 males and 255 females), with two reported deaths and 0.20 metric tonnes (MT) of wool produced.
This reflects a gradual decline from 2023, which had 426 sheep, 46 deaths, and 0.49MT of wool produced. The downward trend is more pronounced compared to 2022, which saw a significantly higher sheep population of 770, 149 deaths, and 3.57MT of wool produced.
There are 9,176 sheep in the country, with Samtse alone accounting for 5, 367 of them in 2024.