Context and Purpose: The nomadic community of Iran, owning nearly 27.7 million heads of livestock, contributes significantly to the production of red meat, milk, and plays a strategic role in food security, production sustainability, and population stability in border regions. However, climatic pressures, rangeland degradation, market fluctuations, and the absence of efficient marketing systems threaten the sustainability of nomadic livelihoods. The objective of this study is to examine the role of nomadic livestock in national food security and to propose strategies for improving productivity.

Design/methodology/approach: This study is analytical and policy-oriented in nature. Data were collected from secondary sources, including reports from the Iranian Nomadic Affairs Organization, FAO, and related field studies, and were analyzed using a qualitative analytical approach.

Findings: The results indicate that adopting balanced rations based on local and supplementary feed resources, implementing community-based breeding programs, developing livestock value chains, and establishing insurance and credit infrastructures can enhance production efficiency as well as the economic and environmental resilience of nomadic livestock systems.

Conclusion: The proposed measures include integrating nomadic livestock systems into national food security and national defense policies, improving productivity and livelihood sustainability, and supporting border communities.

Originality/value: By combining analytical and field-based evidence, this study identifies key challenges and provides policy-oriented solutions for enhancing food security and the sustainability of Iran’s nomadic livestock systems. It holds substantial scientific and practical value for policymakers and national development planners.