Tharparkar is known for its livestock and rich pastoral traditions, but this heritage is now at a turning point. The age-old practice of traditional knowledge about cow breeds and livestock care, passed down through generations, is rapidly declining. Once, Thari herders could identify and nurture strong, high-yielding cows through deep local understanding. Today, that legacy is fading, and milk production has sharply declined.

In the past, it was common to find local cows producing 15–20 litres of milk daily. Today, many herders report yields as low as 2 litres per cow. Several interconnected factors explain this decline and have pushed Thar into greater difficulty.

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One major factor is prolonged migration and the weakening of animals. In Thar, livestock is constantly on the move, forced to travel long distances in search of grazing, water and fodder, often from the desert to the barrage belt. Animals move across districts, from Tharparkar to Badin, Umerkot, Sanghar and Tando Muhammad Khan. This continuous migration severely weakens livestock.

The first impact is on body condition. Weakened animals are unable to produce sufficient milk, and their ability to conceive also declines. Instead of thriving on local grazing lands, cows suffer due to constant movement and poor nutrition. Many cows now go up to two years without pregnancy, yet herders lack both the knowledge and........

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