Objective Studying the livestock production pattern and its evolution rules in the Tarim River Basin lays an important foundation for optimizing animal husbandry structure, and is of great significance for raising farmers’ income and stabilizing border prosperity.

Methods A livestock production dataset covering 42 counties (cities) of 5 prefectures and 52 regimental farms under 4 Corps Divisions in the Tarim River Basin from 1990 to 2020 was constructed. Remote sensing technology and the theory of comparative advantage were adopted to analyze the spatial-temporal characteristics and dominant livestock industries in the Tarim River Basin.

Results (1) The overall spatial distribution of livestock inventory in the Tarim River Basin shows a pattern of high stock in the west and low stock in the east. Areas with high livestock density are concentrated in the southwest of the basin, including Kashgar Prefecture and some counties in Hotan Prefecture; areas with low livestock density mainly consist of Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture and Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Kashgar Prefecture. (2) Compared with the average level of Xinjiang, the sheep industry in the five prefectures of the basin has comparative advantages; Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture and Kashgar Prefecture have advantages in developing cattle industry, while the basin has no comparative advantage in horse breeding.

Conclusion Combined with local livestock production and ecological conditions, the study area is divided into three animal husbandry subzones: Hotan-Kashgar-Kizilsu agricultural and characteristic livestock zone, Aksu agricultural livestock zone, and Bayingolin integrated farming-animal husbandry zone. Differentiated measures shall be implemented to promote the sustainable development of animal husbandry.