In Neamt County people had the occupation of raising animals for the daily food. Most of the animals were raised in the mountain villages where there was good grass and where the conditions permitted large herds of animals. The sheep herds can be seen even today on the hills of Neamt County together with the shepherd and the protective dogs.

In “doine” (traditional Romanian songs) and ballads this kind of life is well described and depicted. One of the most famous ballad is Miorita that was also adapted by the writer Mihail Sadoveanu in his book Baltagul. The book places the action in Sabasa Valley from Neamt County.

The life of the shepherds didn’t changed that much: they only had to enlarge the sheepfolds, use vessels made of plastic and metal instead of the old wood ones and change their clothes. The old habits are still the same and the sheep are raised in the same way. The sheepfold is the most important place where the sheep are inventoried and where different specialties of milk are made like cas, urda, butter and balmos.

Today in Bistrita Mountains and also in Tarcau and Stanisoara Mountains there are touristic sheepfolds where tourists can experience this life and can see how the daily chores are carried on.