Description
Bos grunniens or the domesticated yak was brought to North America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In Asia, yaks have been observed to lose 25% or more of their body weight over the winter in the high mountain altitudes. Little research has been conducted with the domesticated yak and their nutritional needs. Maintaining positive weight change during the winter is expected to improve the profitability and viability of yak production systems in North America. An on-farm study was conducted near Wellington, KY, USA to investigate the winter performance of yaks and hay type. Four outdoor grass lots approximate 0.32 hectares in size were utilized for growing yaks through the winter. Three hay types were offered to yaks and included alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a mixture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) and red clover (Trifolium pratense), or a mixture of common pasture cool-season grasses (Year 1) or orchardgrass (Year 2). Hay disappearance and weight change were monitored. Hay disappearance was found to be similar across the hay types when expressed as a percentage of body weight but was numerically greatest for alfalfa. Weight change was similar for alfalfa and orchardgrass-red clover mixture in both years with alfalfa having greater weight gain than the grass hay fed. Average daily gain was greatest for alfalfa and similar to the orchardgrass-red clover mixture in Year 1. In Year 2, orchardgrass-red clover mixture and orchardgrass had similar ADG. Yaks respond positively to higher forage quality in hay during the winter-feeding period.
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Winter Performance of North American Bos grunniens Offered Hay Harvested From Different Forage Species
Bos grunniens or the domesticated yak was brought to North America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In Asia, yaks have been observed to lose 25% or more of their body weight over the winter in the high mountain altitudes. Little research has been conducted with the domesticated yak and their nutritional needs. Maintaining positive weight change during the winter is expected to improve the profitability and viability of yak production systems in North America. An on-farm study was conducted near Wellington, KY, USA to investigate the winter performance of yaks and hay type. Four outdoor grass lots approximate 0.32 hectares in size were utilized for growing yaks through the winter. Three hay types were offered to yaks and included alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a mixture of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) and red clover (Trifolium pratense), or a mixture of common pasture cool-season grasses (Year 1) or orchardgrass (Year 2). Hay disappearance and weight change were monitored. Hay disappearance was found to be similar across the hay types when expressed as a percentage of body weight but was numerically greatest for alfalfa. Weight change was similar for alfalfa and orchardgrass-red clover mixture in both years with alfalfa having greater weight gain than the grass hay fed. Average daily gain was greatest for alfalfa and similar to the orchardgrass-red clover mixture in Year 1. In Year 2, orchardgrass-red clover mixture and orchardgrass had similar ADG. Yaks respond positively to higher forage quality in hay during the winter-feeding period.
