Horses are kept as pack animals, pigs and poultry for meat and eggs. Sheep and goats are also raised. In the alpine zone yaks replace the cattle and horses. The primary gender division of labour in livestock management is somewhat blurred. However, usually women tend small stock, especially poultry.
Women also feed the cattle, while men usually take cattle for grazing.
The environment in Bhutan is still relatively intact. This is partly due to the recent start of the development process, and partly to the high priority given to environmental sustainability and conservation by the Royal Government of Bhutan. Moreover, the Buddhist philosophy of love and respect to nature has greatly influenced people's attitude to the environment. People in Bhutan live in harmony with nature in a symbiotic relationship that goes back to untold centuries. The rural community's relationship with environment is reflected in the abundant use of various kinds of plants for medicine, essential and vegetable oil, traditional paper, natural vegetable dyes, etc.