Abstract : In this paper the researcher will highlight the importance of livestock in the history of Kashmir. The cattle were indispensable for carrying out agricultural pursuits and providing clothing and bedding as well as fuel for cooking purposes. After all, agriculture depends upon cattle for ploughing and manuring of the land. The poor peasantry wore woollen clothes even in summer and the people in general used cow dung for fuel besides using it as the basic manure for their fields. This is besides the fact that cattle provided milk, butter, ghi, and meat along with defraying the peasants’ expense he had to incur on various necessities in the absence of any other non-agriculture source. Given this crucial significance of livestock for the survival of peasantry, it is not surprising that the men and the cattle lived under the same roof. The other assets mentioned above were collectively called mal meaning wealth or more appropriately as muhimuk yar meaning the friend in need.