Husbandry has been the primary economic branch of the population living in the areas surrounding Tara and Lim since the old times. Traces of the old katuns can still be seen. A well-known katun Vranjak, one of the highest (situated at the altitude of 1,850 m) was mentioned as Vrana in the records from 1324.

Numerous katuns are named after people from the Middle Ages first names: Desin do, Reljina, Rajkov do, Bratonjin vrh (first names Desa, Relja, Rajko, Bratota); or after family names and villages: katun Bojovića, Žarski, Prisojački, Ravanjski, Mujićki; or Jelina katunina, after a woman called Jela. Some of the katuns are named after the surrounding places: Šiški, Krivi do, Sedlo, Strmenica, Rupe.

Every village, every family even, had katuns on the Bjelasica mountain. Certain families used to have more than a thousand sheep, as well as winter lodgings for the shepherds and cattle. Then, they would use the hay mowed during the summer with their families and friends. During their stay in winter lodgings, shepherds would spend time together, and help each other in those harsh conditions, away from their families and houses for months.

Every household had to move to the mountain in the spring, usually somewhere around St. George’s Day (May 6). The distance between the village and the mountain was at least 2 hours of tough walk. Two or three days before the day chosen for the move, older men would go to the mountain to visit and prepare the katun.

Preparations would begin early in the morning: shepherds would set off with their flocks of sheep, goats and cattle, release the dogs that help them with moving the herds, men would load the horses with the necessities (vats, dishes, clothes, shoes, linen, kitchen equipment…). Women looked after the children, and children led the sheepdog.

Dwellings or huts were made of plank-covered logs. The interior of the dwelling was divided into two parts, one for dairy products and the second part was used for living. Smaller huts were built next to the dwelling, and cattle pens were situated behind them. At first, these pens were made of roughly cut young fir trees and later on from picket panels. They were moved from time to time, in order to maintain good hygiene. They had to be safeguarded by the dog, tied next to the pen.

These dwellings were also called bačije. The name originates from the earliest times, this is the reason why one part of Bjelasica is called Bačko brdo.

Many jobs are done in the katun: men prepare firewood, material for dwellings, shear sheep, mountain women milk animal two times, in the morning and in the evening, when the sheep return from the pasture. The milk is then strained, boiled, poured into wooden dishes, in order to make cheese or clotted cream.

People used to say: while we have enough milk, we have medicine, too.