Cultural ecology: Analysis of indigenous knowledge and social cohesion in milk management of grazing animals on rangeland (Case study: Ghasr e Yaghub village, Khorram Bid, Fars province)

Cooperation in pastoralism and indigenous knowledge of dairy management had been considered for many years in Iran and had been adapted with culture and environment of every region. This research had illustrated the analysis of indigenous knowledge and social cohesion in dairy management of grazing livestock in Ghasr e Yaghub village. Research method was a combination of filed studies، direct observation، and cooperative observation and organized interview. The results include functions of cooperative management system of “Ham Shiry” among rural women named “Shir Dan”، different dimensions of indigenous knowledge، mechanism of dairy management among women and related traditions and local cooperation. The results demonstrated that rural women in the study area had been created social institution based on local rules and in order to manage dairy products. This kind of associations had been rooted in indigenous knowledge and has a significant role to save and improve social cohesion and sustainability of economical characteristics of local inhabitants.