Many Bhutanese who live in the highlands in the north depend on highland cattle and sheep for their livelihood. Yak herding is an ancient tradition and encompasses yak husbandry, herding, processing dairy products, making use of yak hair, slaughtering in some cases, management of grazing lands and seasonal migration practices. The semi-nomadic families in the northern highlands spend most of their time herding yaks, the female version called Dri and the crossbreed between a yak and cow called Dzo. However, yak herding is now in serious decline. As a result the cultures associated with the herding and husbandry of highland animals are also dying in many places.