Although undernutrition is recognized as a common factor for suboptimal productive performance in grazing ruminants in tropical countries, studies have revealed that minerals play specific and multiple roles in catalyzing and regulating body functions and body growth. Deficiencies and imbalances in mineral supply are also a major cause for reduced productive performance in migratory sheep and goats. The vast hilly terrain of Himalayan states has variable soils with wide range of pH which tend to interfere or promote uptake of certain mineral elements leading to their deficiencies or excess. Enormous investigative work is required to be conducted to systematically unravel the mineral status of animals in the Himalayan region. In our studies and literature search carried out in the northern Indian states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and union territories (UTs) Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, four minerals, namely, copper, zinc, phosphorus, and sodium were found to limit the migratory animal production. In some pockets of Jammu and Kashmir, calcium and iron, and in Uttarakhand, manganese were found to limit production. The animals examined in the middle hill areas of Himachal Pradesh exhibited borderline serum levels of copper and zinc. Sodium deficiency was widely prevalent in many areas, but there was no practice of regular mineral supplementation by the livestock owners. An important issue of significance which emerged from the literature search and our own work is the observation of low sodium content in forages, grasses, and tree leaves in Himalayan region. Studies carried out in hilly areas of other Himalayan countries such as China and Pakistan have also identified sodium as one of the prominent minerals limiting small ruminant production. Sodium deficiency of varying degree along with phosphorus has been reported in northern China and Tibetan plateau. In Pakistan, widespread deficiencies of copper, phosphorus, and sodium have been reported in herbages and tree leaves. Literature review shows that attention to sodium(salt) deficiency was originally drawn with the observation of salt craving by sodium-deficient cows. During our investigative work on migratory ruminants in Himachal Pradesh, we had observed an interesting phenomenon of intense salt hunger in the sheep flock after their prolonged stay at the high-altitude pastures. We feel that sodium deficiency appears to be an emerging prevalence in Himalayan region which needs to be thoroughly investigated systematically. This has been discussed in depth.