Huocheng herders use trucks for spring livestock transfer

As temperatures warm, the seasonal livestock transfer has begun. In Huocheng County, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, more and more herders are opting for mechanized transfer, using trucks instead of the traditional method of herding sheep on horseback — cutting journeys that once took days down to just a few hours.

On March 22, 2026, the valley of the winter pasture was bathed in warm sunlight. Herder Shejiaoer Kuobaisi and his wife were busy loading the last few bags of luggage onto a truck. The bedding inside their dwelling had long been packed, and everything was in perfect order. Neighbors came to help count the sheep. After four months of living side by side in the winter camp, three herder families, with four trucks in total, were setting off together toward spring, heading for the spring pastures in Saerbulake Town, 160 kilometers away.

Photo shows a herder’s home in the winter pasture.

Herder Hasitaier Hali said, “We’ve stayed in the winter pasture for four months. We’re about to move to the spring pastures now and plan to transfer our 300 sheep by mechanized transport. It will take about three hours to reach the spring pastures.”

Photo shows a herder cradles a lamb in his arms.

With everyone working together, the sheep were loaded into the truck in an orderly manner. By 4:00 p.m., everything was ready, and the trucks, carrying 1,200 sheep and the families’ belongings, slowly pulled out of the winter camp. Along the way, traffic police escorted the convoy, reminding drivers to stay safe. The convoy drove past towering wind turbines, past the frozen shores of Sailimu Lake, and across the magnificent Guozigou Bridge. In the past, herders would take three or four days to travel this route on horseback, but now, on wheels, it was shortened to just a few hours.

Photo shows the traffic police escort the convoy.

Tanjalik Dolar, deputy director of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Development Center of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Bureau of Huocheng County, said, “This year, the mechanized transfer rate in Huocheng County has reached about 60 percent, involving around 230 households and approximately 70,000 sheep. We’ve coordinated 20 vehicles to ensure a smooth process, and the transportation department is also guaranteeing transfer process. The advantages of mechanized transfer are, first, time-saving, and second, reducing the burden on herders. That’s why more herders are now choosing this method.”

Photo shows the sheep leave the truck in an orderly manner.

After several hours on the road, the four trucks finally arrived at Qibalagaxi Village, a settled community for herders in Saerbulake Town. As soon as the truck doors opened, the sheep poured out like a rushing tide, joyfully frolicking in the yard. For Shejiaoer and his family, those three-plus hours of rolling wheels were more than just a move — they carried new hopes and aspirations for the year ahead, along with a deep longing for a better life. After a brief rest, the flock would head to the spring pastures five kilometers away, ready to taste the first fresh grass of the season.

(The Media Convergence Center of Huocheng County, Reporters: Zhang Bainian, Wang Xuefeng, Xu Jiahao, Xia Lei and Yerxat)