How shared labour keeps these old herding practices alive

Across Mongolia, herders work together in small groups known as khot ail. They share tasks such as herding animals and moving them between seasonal pastures. This form of cooperation has existed for centuries, dating back to the 12th century.

This form of cooperation is now being studied by researchers. As part of the research project Complexity, a team from NIKU is studying forms of collaboration among pastoralists in different parts of the world.

Pastoralism refers to moving livestock between seasonal pastures.

A central question in the project is how large empires emerge from small herding groups. To understand this, researchers first need to understand how cooperation functions within these communities.

This is what led Guro Lovise Hole Fisktjønmo from NIKU to study the khot ail, the traditional Mongolian herding groups. 

A high-altitude nation shaped by mobility 

Mongolia is one of the world’s most sparsely populated countries, with just 3.5 million inhabitants spread across vast areas. 

It borders Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. 

In the summer of 2024, Fisktjønmo conducted fieldwork in Bat-Ulzii in central Mongolia, and in the summer of 2025 she travelled to Tsagaannuur in the far north. 

“Although the landscapes were similar in both locations – green river valleys and open plains – there were significant differences among the herders. In Tsagaannuur, herders were generally wealthier, lived more dispersed, and the wealth was more evenly distributed,” she explains.

Much of Mongolia lies at high altitude, with extensive plateaus and mountain ranges that shape its climate. Winters are long and dry, while summers are short and warm. 

In such conditions, herders move their animals between seasonal pastures to find good grazing. This way of life is a central part of Mongolian history and identity.

A herding tradition that has endured for centuries 

For centuries, nomadic households in Mongolia have formed flexible groups of two to ten families to share tasks such as herding, seasonal migrations, and childcare – the khot ail. 

This system resembles the siida structure in Sámi reindeer herding. With roots stretching back to the 1100s, it has survived wars and political upheavals. 

During the communist era, collectivisation caused the khot ail to disappear. But the system returned when Mongolia became a democracy in 1990. 

“We know little about how important khot ail is today. But after living with and speaking to Mongolian pastoralists, we see that the system is still very much alive,” says Fisktjønmo.

Shared labour at the heart of herding life 

The greatest advantage of khot ail is the ability to share labour-intensive tasks that are too demanding for a single family to manage alone – such as herding, slaughtering, shearing wool, or moving animals between pastures. 

Unlike Sámi reindeer herders in Norway, Mongolian herders keep mixed herds of up to five species. Cooperation allows them to divide the animals by species or age when needed. 

“The practical aspects of herding are where cooperation is most visible,” Fisktjønmo explains. “And what we’ve seen is that most herders belong to a khot ail.” 

In some families, the cooperation also extends to childcare, milking, and processing animal products. The system is flexible and informal, and changes based on needs and circumstances. 

Fisktjønmo’s research shows that there is no single model for how a khot ail functions. The level of cooperation, the tasks involved, and the number of families can vary widely across regions and seasons. 

“We see that cooperation is important for herders, but it remains uncertain how essential the khot ail itself is for enabling that cooperation,” she says. 

Climate pressures and social change

Pastoralist livelihoods are under pressure from several directions. 

“Climate change is causing drier pastures, winter storms, and longer springs – all of which negatively affect livestock survival,” says Fisktjønmo.

As grazing conditions worsen, many herders move closer to towns in search of better pastures. 

This leads to overgrazing and makes seasonal movement harder, even though moving between pastures has long been important for ensuring enough fodder throughout the year. 

Education has also become more important, often splitting families. Children may live in town with their mother or relatives during the school year. This means they participate less in daily herding activities. 

“Climate change, urbanisation, and competition with agriculture and mining create major challenges for Mongolian herders, just as herding communities around the world are experiencing," the researcher says.

Fisktjønmo adds that understanding how they cooperate is important for protecting this way of life.

Can collaboration secure the future? 

In the face of climate change, overgrazing, and social transformation, cooperation appears to be the key. 

“Collaboration between herding families seems essential, but the future depends on how herders adapt to new social and climatic conditions," says Fisktjønmo.

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