Yak Butter and High Altitude Dairy Traditions Chamoli

High-altitude communities in Chamoli district above 3500 metres keep Yaks and Chauris (Yak-cattle hybrids) that thrive in extreme cold where ordinary cattle cannot survive. Yak butter (ghee) made from rich Yak milk is a dietary staple for high-altitude villagers and a valued trade commodity. Traditional butter tea (Bhutiya-style) using Yak butter mixed with salt and tea provides calories and warmth at altitude. Yak wool is spun into thick warm fabrics. Traditional knowledge of Yak husbandry including disease treatment using local herbs, breeding management, and migration routes to seasonal pastures is maintained by Bhotiya pastoralist communities. This specialised knowledge of high-altitude animal husbandry is increasingly relevant for climate adaptation research.