Feeding of Yak and Mithun

The yak and mithun are found mainly in the north-eastern hill region of India. The yak is largely dependent on natural pastures for its survival and its nutritional state varies seasonally as the supply of supplementary feeds is limited. In most herds, only very weak animals and some pregnant or lactating yak are given access to feeds in addition to grazing. Low calving and growth rates are attributed to the poor nutritional condition of the yak, in the cold season particularly. The traditional way of maintaining the animals is to allow them to put on as much fat as possible during the warm season; that fat is then used over the long cold season as an energy reserve to allow survival beyond the early spring. Mithun is mainly reared for beef production. Besides, this animal also plays an important role in the socio-cultural life of its owners. Steep hilly forest (300 to 3000 m above mean sea level) is the natural habitat of this unique free-range domesticated bovine.