World
Mongolia Suffers Significant Livestock Losses Due to Severe Weather
Mongolia has faced a devastating loss of more than 3.9 million head of livestock, as reported by Tuvshinsaikhany Bayarhuu, the Secretary of the State Commission for Emergency Situations, during a press conference for local media on Monday.
The livestock deaths have been attributed directly to severe weather conditions, known locally as white and iron dzud, or winter dry conditions. These natural disasters occur when livestock struggle to find food beneath the snow, leading to widespread starvation and exposure.
According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Light Industry, by the conclusion of 2023, Mongolia’s total livestock population had decreased by 9.1 percent, totaling 64.7 million heads.
Today, livestock farming stands as one of the primary sectors of Mongolia’s economy, serving as a crucial source of income for nearly 40 percent of the country’s nomadic population.
