Recovery from a winter disaster in Töv Province of Mongolia

•We analyzed the factors of changes in livestock after a disaster.•Household surveys were conducted four years before and after a disaster in steppe areas in Mongolia.•Households who have a small amount of livestock are unable to recover quickly after a disaster.•High rate of consumption for the poor is the main reason of slow recovery.

Using a 2010 case study, this paper shows that the damage and recovery process following winter disasters in Mongolia depends on the initial level of livestock prior to the disaster. We examined the factors of change in total stock level such as births, sales, and herders' family consumption. We use original, household-level data for herders before and after the 2010 disaster and show that households with a large number of animals before a disaster are more likely to recover quickly. Households with a small amount of stock are unable to recover quickly, mainly because of their high rate of family consumption.