Transhumance is a term that has two accepted usages:

A seter in Gudbrandsdal, Norway. It is above the tree line in the mountains and is used for summer pasture.

• Older sources use the term transhumance for vertical seasonal livestock movement, typically to higher pastures in summer and to the lower valleys in winter. The herders have a permanent home, typically in the valley. Only the herds and a subset of people necessary to tend them travel. This is termed fixed transhumance below.
• Some recent studies consider nomadism, where livestock move to follow grazing over considerable distances following set seasonal patterns (with the whole family of herders living in temporary shelters which move with the herds all the year round), a form of transhumance. This is termed nomadic transhumance below.

Traditional or fixed transhumance, in which livestock ascend to mountain pastures in summer and descend to relatively warm areas in the valleys, foothills, plains or desert fringe in winter, occurs throughout the world, including Scandinavia, France, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain, Turkey, Switzerland, Georgia and Lesotho. It is also practiced amongst the more nomadic Sami people of Scandinavia. Transhumance is based on the difference of climate between the mountains (where the herds stay during the summer) and the lowlands (where they remain the winter). Its importance to pastoralist societies cannot be overstated. Milk, butter and cheese — the dairy products of transhumance — often form the basis of the local population's diet. Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian fylke (county) of Oppland. ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... Pastureland Pasture is land with lush herbaceous vegetation cover used for grazing of ungulates as part of a farm or ranch. ... Summer is a season that is astronomically defined as beginning around June 21, and ending around September 23 in the Northern Hemisphere. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley A valley (in Scotland, a glen) is a landform, which can range from a few square miles (square kilometers) to hundreds or even thousands of square miles in area. ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ... A herd of Wildebeest A gaggle of Canada geese For other uses, see Herd (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Grazing is the regular consumption of part of one organism without killing it by another organism. ... A season is one of the major divisions of the year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in weather. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. ... The Sami people (also Sámi, Saami, Lapps and Laplanders) are the indigenous people of Sápmi, which encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. ... Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. ... Pastoralists are people whose main source of livelihood is livestock with which they move seasonally in search of fresh pasture and water. ... A glass of cows milk A goat kid feeding on its mothers milk Milk is the nutrient fluid secreted by the mammary glands of female mammals (including monotremes). ... Butter is commonly sold in sticks (pictured) or blocks, and frequently served with the use of a butter knife. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... Dairy farm near Oxford, New York A dairy is a facility for the extraction and processing of animal milk (mostly from cows, sometimes from buffalo, sheep or goats) and other farm animals, for human consumption. ...

Fixed transhumance

In the past transhumance was widespread throughout Europe. In many areas — such as the Isle of Lewis in Scotland — it has faded out, but was practiced within living memory. Today much transhumance is carried out by truck. Looking towards the Uplands in the centre of the Island of Lewis Lewis (Leòdhas in Scottish Gaelic) or The Isle of Lewis (Eilean Leòdhais), is the northern part of the largest island of the Western Isles of Scotland or Outer Hebrides (Na h-Eileanan Siar). ... Motto: (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity(English) Wha daur meddle wi me? (Scots)[1] Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots[2] Government  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP Unification    - by Kenneth I... The driver of this DAF tractor with an auto-transport semi-trailer truck prepares to offload Å koda Octavia cars in Cardiff, Wales For other articles with similar names, see Lorry (disambiguation) and Truck (disambiguation). ...

Scandinavia

In Scandinavia, transhumance is practiced to this day, although the arrival of motorized vehicles has changed its character. The seter is the term for a common mountain or forest pasture used in the summer for transhumance and the mountain cabin which was used as a summer residence. In the summer (usually late June) the livestock is moved to the mountain farm, often quite distant from the home farm, preserving the meadows in the valleys for use as hay. The livestock were typically tended for the summer by girls and younger women, who milked and made cheese. The bulls usually remain at the home farm. As autumn approaches, once the grazing is no longer adequate, the livestock are returned to the home farm. Scandinavia is a historical and geographical region centered on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... A meadow is a habitat of rolling or flat terrain where grasses predominate. ... Stacked hay in Romania A bale of grass hay weighing approximately 70 pounds, able to be managed by one person without need for mechanized equipment Close view of grass hay. ... Look up bull in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In Sweden, this system was predominantly used in Värmland, Dalarna, Härjedalen, Jämtland, Hälsingland, Medelpad and Ångermanland. â–¶(?) is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. ...   is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. ... â–¶ (help· info), is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. ... (help· info), is a historical province or landskap in the center of Sweden. ...   Hälsingland?, is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. ... Medelpad is the name of a geographical region in Sweden which can refer to: Medelpadia, or Medelpad - a historical Province of Sweden Part of Västernorrland County, or Västernorrlands län - a current County of Sweden Part of Härnösand County, or Härnösands län - a... (help· info), is a historical province or landskap in the north of Sweden. ...

Due to Norway's highly mountainous nature, it was common to most regions in Norway. “The Gudbrandsdal area include lateral valleys such as Gausdal, Heidal, Vinstradal, and Ottadal. The area comprises lowland parishes 200 m above sea-level and mountain parishes 800 m above sea-level, fertile soil in the main valley and barren summits in Rondane and Dovrefjell. Forests surround the farms, but higher up the woods give way to a treeless mountain plateau. This is the seterfjell, or summer farm region, once of vital importance both as summer pastureland and for haymaking” (Reference: Welle-Strand). Gudbrandsdalen is a valley and traditional district in the Norwegian fylke (county) of Oppland. ... County Oppland District Gudbrandsdalen Municipality NO-0522 Administrative centre Østre gausdal Mayor (2003) Olav Olstad (Sp) Official language form Neutral Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 84 1,192 km² 1,149 km² 0. ... Heidal is a district in the Gudbrandsdalene rich in beauty and tradition and lying along the narrow valley of the Sjoa River. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

While previously many farms had their own seter, today it is more usual for several farmers share a modernized common seter (fellesseter). Most of the old seters have been left to decay or are used as cabins.

The name for the common mountain pasture in most Scandinavian languages derives from the old Norse term setr. In (Norwegian) the term is sæter or seter. In (Swedish) the term säter is used. The place name appears in Sweden in several forms Säter and Sätra and as a suffix: -säter, -sätra, -sätt and -sättra. The names appear extensively over Sweden with a centre in the Mälaren basin and in Östergötland. In most of Sweden, it used to mean "forest pasture at a distance from the settlement", whereas it in western Sweden meant "mountain pasture". Old Norse or Danish tongue is the Germanic language once spoken by the inhabitants of the Nordic countries (for instance during the Viking Age). ... Location map Mälaren details, with Stockholm urban area to the right in pink. ... (help· info) is a historical Province (landskap) in the south of Sweden. ...

The Pyrenees

The transhumance in the Pyrenees involves relocation of livestock (cows, sheep, horses) to the high mountains for the summer months, because farms in the lowland are too small to support a larger herd all year round. The mountain period starts in late May and early June, and ends in early October. Until the 1970s the transhumance concerned mainly dairy cows, and cheesemaking was the important activity. In some regions up until this century, nearly all the members of a family decamped to the higher mountains with their cows, living in rudimentary stone cabins. This system, which evolved during the Middle Ages, lasted into the 20th century, but broke down under the pressure of industrialization with concomitant depopulation of the countryside. Pic de Bugatetin the Néouvielle Natural Reserve Central Pyrenees The Pyrenees (Spanish: Pirineos; French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés; Basque: Pirinioak) are a range of mountains in southwest Europe that form a natural border between France and Spain. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

The Alps

The traditional economy of the Alps was based upon rearing cattle. Seasonal migration between the valley and the high pastures was critical in feeding an increased number of cattle and supporting a higher human population. The practice has shaped a lot of the landscape in the Alps, as without it, most areas below 2000 m would be forests. The west face of the Petit Dru above the Chamonix valley near the Mer de Glace. ...

While tourism and industry contribute today much to the economy in the Alps, the seasonal migration to the high pastures is still practiced in Bavaria, Austria and Switzerland, except in the most frequented tourist centers. In some places, the cattle are taken care of by the local farmer families who move to the higher places, in others, this is the job of herdsmen who are employees of the cooperative owning the pastures. The geographic region and Free State of Bavaria (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ...

Austria has over 12 000 sites where 70 000 farmers take care of about 500 000 cattle. Alpine pastures amount to a quarter of the farmland.

Bavaria has about 1400 sites hosting 50 000 cattle, about half of them in Upper Bavaria and the other half in the Allgäu. The geographic region and Free State of Bavaria (German: Freistaat Bayern), with an area of 70,553 km² (27,241 square miles) and 12. ... Oberbayern (Upper Bavaria) is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the south of Bavaria, around the city Munich. ... Allgäu as seen from a hot air balloon Allgäu is an area in south-west of Swabia (Bavaria) and contains also a small part of south-east Baden-Württemberg. ...

In Switzerland, about 380 000 cattle including 130 000 cows as well as 200 000 sheep are in summer on the high pastures. The milk from the cows is usually made into local cheese specialities, handmade using traditional methods and tools. The alpine pastures amount to 35 percent of the farmland. Transhumance contributes a lot to traditional Swiss culture, e.g. Yodel, Alphorn or Schwingen are closely connected to the high pastures. Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... There are several uses of the term Yodel: Yodeling, a form of singing Yodels, a cream-filled cake make by Drakes This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... D Dießner alphorn players The alphorn is a wind instrument, consisting of a natural wooden horn of conical bore, having a cup-shaped mouthpiece, used by mountain dwellers in Switzerland and elsewhere. ... Schwingen is a Swiss version of wrestling. ...

England

In southern England – particularly the Weald, where the climate is mild and hills low – transhumance historically took the opposite form to that in Switzerland, with cattle grazed on the dry, sandy heath in winter and the rich flood-meadows in summer once the flood-water receded. While this form of pastoralism sees little use today, most flood plains being controlled to permit year-round grazing, it has left its mark on the English toponymy, as attested by nearby paired placenames such as Winterfold Heath and Somersbury Wood.^[1] Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... A weald once meant a dense forest, especially the famous great wood once stretching far beyond the ancient counties of Sussex and Kent, England, where this country of smaller woods is still called the Weald. ... Heath comes from Old English hæð tract of wasteland, from Proto-Germanic *khaiþijo (cognate with Old Irish ciad; see also heather, heathen) refers to a wild meadow or open, unploughed country, see Heath (habitat). ... A flood-meadow (or floodmeadow) is an area of grassland or pasture beside a river, subject to seasonal flooding. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Floodplain. ...

Lesotho

The traditional economy of the Basotho in Lesotho is based upon rearing cattle. Seasonal migration between the valley and the high plateaus of the Maloti (basalt mountains of Lesotho) is critical in feeding an increased number of cattle and supporting a higher human population. The pressure on pasture land has increased due to the construction of large storage dams in the mountains, to provide water to South Africa's arid industrial heartland.

While tourism is starting to contribute to the economy of Lesotho, and more people are moving permanently into the Highlands, the seasonal migration to the high pastures is still practised. This is the job of herdsmen who are employees of the farmers who own the herds. The growing pressure on the pastures is contributing to the degradation of the sensitive grasslands and could contribute to the sedimentation of the man-made lakes.

Nomadic transhumance

Often traditional nomadic groups settle into a regular seasonal pattern, which has been described by some anthropologists as a form of transhumance. An example of a normal transhumance cycle in the northern hemisphere follows: To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Anthropology is the study of the anatomical and mental composition of humanity through the examination of historical and present geographical distribution, cultural history, acculturation, cultural relationships, and racial classifications. ...

• Spring — (early April to the end of June).
• Summer — (end of June to late September).
• Autumn — (mid-September to end of November).
• Winter — (from December to the end of March).

These movements in this example are about 180 to 200 km from the desert plains in the winter to the higher plateau of the summer pastures, with spring and fall spent in transition. The camps are established in the same place each year; often semi-permanent shelters are built in at least one place on the migration route.

These regular patterns are distinguished from those of pastoral nomads, who follow a seasonal migratory pattern which varies from year to year. The timing and destinations of migrations are determined primarily by the herds' grazing needs. Such nomadic societies create no permanent settlements, but live in tents or other movable dwellings the year round. Pastoralist nomads are often self-sufficient, producing their own food, shelter and other needs.

Nomadic transhumance was historically widespread throughout the less fertile regions of the world. It is found in areas of low rainfall such as the Middle Eastern Bedouins and the African Somali people or in areas of harsh climate, such as the Arctic Sami people. A Bedouin man resting on a hillside at Mount Sinai Bedouin, derived from the Arabic ( ‎), a generic name for a desert-dweller, is a term generally applied to Arab nomadic pastoralist groups, who are found throughout most of the desert belt extending from the Atlantic coast of the Sahara via... The Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa. ... The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border Satellite image of the Arctic surface The Arctic is the region around the Earths North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. ... The Sami people (also Sámi, Saami, Lapps and Laplanders) are the indigenous people of Sápmi, which encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. ...

The Mongols in what is now Mongolia, Russia, and China and the Tatars or Turkic people of Eastern Europe and Central Asia were nomadic peoples who practiced nomadic transhumance on the harsh Asian steppes. Some remnants of these populations are nomadic to this day. The name Mongols (Mongolian: Mongol) specifies one or several ethnic groups. ... Kültigin Monument where first mention of Tatar people is inscribed Tatars (Tatar: Tatarlar/Татарлар), sometimes spelled Tartar (more about the name), is a collective name applied to the Turkic speaking people of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. ... The Turkic people are any of various peoples whose members speak languages in the Turkic family of languages. ... Regions of Europe as delineated by the United Nations (UN definition of Eastern Europe marked salmon):  Northern Europe  Western Europe  Eastern Europe  Southern Europe Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... A steppe in Western Kazakhstan in early spring In physical geography, a steppe (Russian: - , Ukrainian: - , Kazakh: - ), pronounced in English as , is a plain without trees (apart from those near rivers and lakes); it is similar to a prairie, although a prairie is generally considered as being dominated by tall grasses...

The nomadic Sami people, an indigenous people of northern Finland, Sweden, Norway, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia, practice a form of nomadic transhumance based on the reindeer. In the 14th and 15th century, when the population was sufficiently reduced that the Sami could not subsist on hunting alone, some Sami, organized along family lines, became reindeer herders. Each family has traditional territories on which they herd, arriving at roughly the same time each season. Only a small fraction of the Sami have subsisted on reindeer herding over the past century; as the most colorful part of the population, they are well known. But as elsewhere in Europe, transhumance is dying out. Location of Kola south of the Barents Sea. ... Binomial name Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758) Reindeer map The reindeer, known as caribou when wild in North America, is an Arctic and Subarctic-dwelling deer (Rangifer tarandus). ...

Worldwide transhumance patterns

Transhumance developed on every inhabited continent. Although there are substantial cultural and technological variations, the underlying practices for taking advantage of remote seasonal pastures are similar.

Africa

The Berber people of northern Africa were traditional farmers, living in the mountains relatively close to the Mediterranean coast, or oasis dwellers; however, the Tuareg and Zenaga of the southern Sahara practice nomadic transhumance. Some groups, such as the Chaouis, practiced fixed transhumance. The Berbers (also called Amazigh people or Imazighen, free men, singular Amazigh) are an ethnic group autochtonous to Northwest Africa and speak various Berber languages. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... For other senses of this name, see Tuareg (disambiguation). ... Afro-Asiatic - Berber - Zenaga Zenaga is a Berber language spoken by some 200 to 300 people between Mederdra and the Atlantic coast in southern Mauritania. ... Chaoui people are a Berber ethnic group, they live mainly in the Aures External links chawinet. ...

The Maasai and Kĩkũyũ, semi-nomadic peoples located primarily in Kenya and northern Tanzania, have pastoral transhumance cultures that revolve around their cattle. The dependence was historically very strong, with even the huts of the Maasai built from dried cattle dung. They are related to the Zulu, a people who live mainly in South Africa who were also formerly semi-nomadic. Languages Maa (É”l Maa) Religions monotheist animism A Maasai tribesman. ... A Kikuyu woman in traditional dress. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (often called cows in vernacular and contemporary usage, or kye as the Scots plural of cou) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

North America

Transhumance, relying on the use of public land, continues to be an important source of livestock feed in the western United States. The American tradition was based around moving herds to higher ground with the improvement in highland pastures in the spring and summer. It was based on a semi-nomadic cowboy or the nomadic shepherd who often traveled with the herd. The Mexican charro, is a continuation of this tradition to the south. For other uses, see Cowboy (disambiguation). ... In a draw in a mountainous region, a shepherd guides a flock of about 20 sheep amidst scrub and olive trees. ... For the entertainer whose full name is Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Molina Baeza, see: Charo A Charro is a traditional cowboy of central and northern Mexico. ...

South America

South American transhumance relies on "cowboy" counterparts, the gaucho of Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and (with the spelling "gaúcho") southern Brazil, the llanero of Venezuela, the huaso of Chile. Gauchos taming horses in Corrientes Province, Argentina. ... A Llanero or the Llaneros is the name given to Venezuelan and Colombia cowboys and means plainsmen. ... Huaso in chilean rodeo A huaso (feminine huasa, although the term china is far more commonly used for his wife or sweetheart, whose dress can be seen in cueca dancing) is a Chilean countryman and skilled horseman, similar to the Argentinian or Uruguayan gaucho and the US cowboy. ...

Asia

Transhumance practices are found in temperate areas, above ~1000 m in the Himalaya–Hindu Kush area (referred to below as Himalaya); and the cold semi-arid zone north of the Himalaya, through the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau and northern China to the Asian steppe. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... The Hindu Kush or Hindukush (هندوکش in Persian) is a mountain range in Afghanistan as well as in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. ...

Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan all have vestigial transhumance cultures. For regions of the Himalaya transhumance still provides the mainstay of several near-subsistence economies — for example, that of Zanskar in northwest India. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... Zanskar is a region in the Kargil district, part of the north-west Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. ...

Kyrgyzstan

In Kyrgyzstan transhumance, which never died out during the Soviet period, has undergone a resurgence in the difficult economic times following independence. It is integral to the culture of the nation and how the Kyrgyz people see themselves. The felt tent used on these summer pastures (or jailoo) is known as the yurt and its main structural component is symbolised on the national flag. One of the prized products of the herds is the fermented mare's milk drink kumis; an implement used in its production lends its name to the capital, Bishkek. State motto (Russian): Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) (Translated: Workers of the world, unite!) Capital Moscow Official language None; Russian (de facto) Government Federation of Soviet republics Area  - Total  - % water 1st before collapse 22,402,200 km² Approx. ... Kyrgyz (also spelled Kirghiz) are a Turkic ethnic group found primarily in Kyrgyzstan. ... A Yurt is a portable felt dwelling structure used by nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. ... In the West, Kumis has been touted for its health benefits, as in this 1877 book also naming it Milk Champagne. Kumis (also spelled kumiss, koumiss, kymys; called airag in Mongolian cuisine) is a fermented milk drink traditionally made from the milk of horses. ... Bishkek cityscape Bishkek (Бишкек) is the capital of Kyrgyzstan. ...

Australia

In Australia, which has a large ranch (station) culture, stockmen provide the labor to move the herds to seasonal pastures. Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. ... Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame ( a museum in Longreach, Queensland, Australia ) A stockman is the name given to a person who looks after the livestock on a station. ...

References

1. ^ Smith, Gavin (2005). Surrey Place-names. Heart of Albion Press, 28-29. ISBN 1-872883-84-2. 

Adventure Roads in Norway by Erling Welle-Strand, Nortrabooks, 1996. ISBN 82-90103-71-9

See also

• Cowhand
• Drover

American cowboy circa 1887 A cowhand tends livestock, especially cattle. ... A drover is a person that drives livestock to a new location, usually referring to the pre-20th century practice of walking with them and herding them similar to a cowhand. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Transhumance in the alps

• U.S. Department of Agriculture Discussion on Asia
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Discussion on Africa
• Transhumance and 'The Waiting Zone' in North Africa
• limited traditonal transhumance in Australia
• Pastoralism
• short mention of transhumance in North America
• Swiss land registry of alpine pastures (German)]