Nutrient Utilization from Coarse Roughages in Yaks (Poephagus grunniens L.)

Three male yaks (B.W. 145 to 236 kg) were sequentially fed with local dry grass, paddy straw and maize silage for 21 d followed by a digestion trial of 7 d at NRC Yak Centre located at an altitude of 2750 tn of mean sea level when the yaks are under maximum climatic and nutritional stress. The chemical composition of the three roughages is comparable to the reported values. Average daily DMI (g/kg W^0.75) were 43.2, 52.9 and 45,4 on the above three roughages respectively. Yaks lost maximum body weight (13.7 kg) on local dry grass feeding regimen followed by maize silage (6.7 kg) and paddy straw (4.3 kg). The nutrients of paddy straw, were digested more than those of local dry grass. The DCP and TDN (% DM basis) in the three roughage were 0.78, 0.77 and 4.99; 48.7, 61.9 and 67.5.