Abstract

Historically, nomadic pastoralism has been the main form of livestock production in the pastoral areas of northern China. Animal husbandry production by nomads in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region can be characterized by three periods: (1) nomadic period (prior to 1947)—before the establishment of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and includes the feudal dynasties; a period characterized by complete and seasonal nomadism, and traditional modes of production; (2) semi-sedentary and semi-nomadic period (1947–1977)—pastoralism predominated, and nomadic pastoralists began to shift from seasonal nomadism to semi-sedentary pastoralism, with a small proportion of herders settling; and (3) nomadic herders began to settle (after 1978)—the mode of production shifted from a single animal husbandry livelihood to a diversified livelihood based on animal husbandry, with modernization, specialization, and intensification. As nomadic livestock production has changed, so has nomadic livelihood capital.