Spring 2021. Vol 12. Num 1 140 * Corresponding Author: Ghodratollah Heydari, PhD Address: Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Sari, Sari, Iran. Tel: +98 (911) 1123381 E-mail: Q_Heydari@yahoo.com Research Paper Causal Analysis of Factors Afectng the Downturn of Traditonal Livestock Husbandry in Lo- cal Communites (Case Study: Nodoushan Yazd Winter Pastures) The economic and social values of animal husbandry and rangeland management in rural areas are important factors for the contnuaton and maintenance of traditonal livestock husbandry. This study aimed to identfy social, economic, managerial, and environmental factors afectng traditonal livestock husbandry in Nodoushan rangeland in Yazd province. Results of the Friedman test and prioritzing each of the items in the social factor showed that the immigraton of villagers to the city and the depleton of labor from the village was the frst infuental factor with an average of 7.87 and the tendency of young laborers to non-agricultural jobs was the second infuental factor with an average of 6.39. Important economic factors were lower productvity of traditonal livestock husbandry compared with other eco- nomic actvites, especially in non-agricultural sectors as the frst infuental factor with an average of 9.48, and the high cost of shepherds' wages and rangeland rent was ranked as the second infuental factor with an average of 9.35. Regarding the managerial factor, the lack of fodder due to overgrazing was considered as the frst infuental factor with an average of 9.02 and the neglect of villagers' insurance was the second infuental factor with an average of 8.43. Regarding the environmental factor, drought and forage shortage were the frst efectve factors with an average of 5.19 and fodder defciency due to climate change (frost, heat, pests and diseases) was the second efectve factor with an average of 3.92. A B S T R A C T Key words: traditonal live- stock husbandry, Rangelands, Path analysis, Villagers, Shepherds, Partci- paton Received: 24 Aug. 2020 Accepted: 05 Jan. 2021 Extended Abstract 1. Introduction angelands cover about 55% of the countries soil. This vast area, which is the most vital sustainable bedrock of the environment and ecological phenomena, is in fact the foundation of the economics of natural resources. Range- lands have a fundamental and decisive role in the coun- tries livestock husbandry industry, especially traditional livestock nutrition. According to available statistics, 70% of traditional, nomadic and rural livestock in the country between 6-9 months in terms of nutrition rely on pastures. R Citation: Mirjalili, A., Heydari, Gh., Baghestani Meybodi, N., & Rastegar, Sh. (2021). [Causal Analysis of Factors Affect- ing the Downturn of Traditional Livestock Husbandry in Local Communities (Case Study: Nodoushan Yazd Winter Pastures) (Persian)]. Journal of Rural Research, 12(1), 140-155, http://dx.doi.org/ 10.22059/jrur.2021.308771.1546 : http://dx.doi.org/ 10.22059/jrur.2021.308771.1546 Use your device to scan and read the artcle online Copyright © 2021, Journal of Rural Research. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-noncommer- cial 4.0 International License which permits copy and redistribute the material just in noncommercial usages, provided the original work is properly cited. Alibeman Mirjalili 1 , * Ghodratollah Heydari 2 , Naser Baghestani Meybodi 3 , Shafagh Rastegar 4 1. Researcher, Soil Conservaton and Watershed Management Research Department, Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Educaton Center, Agricultural Research, Educaton and Extension Organizaton (AREEO), Yazd, Iran. 2. Associate Professor, Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Sari, Sari, Iran. 3. Associate Professor, Forest and Rangeland Department, Yazd Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Training Center, Organizaton of Research, Educa- ton and Agricultural Extension, Yazd, Iran. 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Range Management, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Sari, Sari, Iran.