A study was undertaken to improve understanding on management system of Mithun (Bos frontalis) x Siri (Bos indicus) cross-bred and Siri cattle, as reared in typical Bhutanese farming system. Eighteen households of Jumja, Gedu and Chasilakha villages under Bongo geog of Chukha district having over hundred milking cows of different breed types were purposively selected and interviewed. All farms were also visited to observe their management practices. Results indicate that majority of farmer-herders periodically migrated their cattle and managed them under traditional "low input-low output system", allowing them to graze freely for most of the year in the natural grazing lands (tshadrog) in and around the broadleaf forests, while few farmer-herders with few heads of cattle or with cattle of higher Jersey inheritance open grazed in the vicinity of the homestead. The majority of the farms lacked proper cattle housing and feeding equipment, and the rudimentary nature of cattle management practices soon becomes apparent. Lack of Mithun breeding bulls, fodder scarcity in certain areas, labour shortages on some farms, deficient management and disease and predator attack were identified as the main management constraints. Nevertheless, farmers-herders in far flung villages may continue this simple cattle management system involving Mithun-Siri cross and Siri cattle because of their adaptability, hardiness and other significant factors.
