Horseflies, wolves and wells: biophysical and socio-economic factors influencing livestock distribution in Kazakhstan’s rangelands

•Multidisciplinary study of pastoral livestock distribution in Kazakhstan rangelands.•Some livestock are moved seasonally to pastures in different ecozones.•Livestock managers evaluate their biophysical and socio-economic resources.•Livestock distribution is not ideally matched to forage and water availability.•Policy needed to redress national under-matching of livestock to natural resources.