移牧是一种基于季节变迁而改变牲畜放牧地点的放牧形态。

移牧可分为垂直移牧跟水平移牧两种形态。一般来说，放牧有固定的夏季及冬季放牧点（草场），而当季节转换时，就会从这两个地区之间迁移。山地生态系统根据海拔高度形成不同的生态区。森林在中海拔地区常见，但随着高度上升，气候变得干燥，树林会逐渐过渡到草地和苔原。所谓垂直移牧，就指这种在夏季时把牲口赶到高地的草场去放牧，到冬季时回到低谷的林地放牧的方式。而牧民的永久居所，一般都会在低谷的林地里。至于水平移牧，往往除了季节以外，还会受到气候、经济及政治因素影响。

Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures. In montane regions (vertical transhumance), it implies movement between higher pastures in summer and lower valleys in winter. Herders have a permanent home, typically in valleys. Generally only the herds travel, with a certain number of people necessary to tend them, while the main population stays at the base. In contrast, horizontal transhumance is more susceptible to being disrupted by climatic, economic or political change.