Why is sheep and cattle raising common in the higher parts of the Caucasus?

In the higher elevations of the Caucasus, sheep and cattle raising is the primary economic activity because these rugged, high-altitude environments are often unsuitable for intensive crop cultivation.12

The region’s geography, characterized by steep slopes and an alpine climate with cool summers and long, cold winters, limits the types of agriculture that can be sustained. Consequently, local populations have historically relied on pastoralism, often practicing transhumance—a seasonal migration of livestock between high-altitude mountain pastures during the summer and lower-lying areas during the rest of the year. This strategy allows herders to utilize mountain grasslands that are otherwise inaccessible or too cold for permanent habitation or farming, while supplementing their livelihood with small-scale mountain crop production and domestic crafts.34512