In Kyrgyz custom, nothing is more important than good relations with others.  Nomadic people, Kyrgyz always shared their last piece of bread with anyone who visited their home – or yurt.

Also embedded in tradition are respect and awe of Mother Nature. Moving with their livestock from summer to autumn pastures, onward to winter and spring areas, and finally back to the starting point, people were cautious and delicate for fear of arousing nature’s wrath. In mountainous areas especially, both herder and herd could fall victim to wild animals, landslides, falling rocks or avalanches. A swollen mountain stream could wash an entire flock down to the valley.   

From time immemorial, the Kyrgyz people have focused on animal husbandry. In the Soviet period, livestock was central. Seed, forage and crop production, veterinary medicine, research, educational institutes and laboratories – all were oriented to supporting the livestock sector.

Kyrgyzstan received significant financial, scientific, technical and human resources for the livestock sector from the Soviet national budget. Funds were allocated for research and breeding to improve cattle varieties, and to maintain some 9 million hectares of pastureland – 78 percent of all agricultural land – in good condition.