What becomes indispensable for domestic yaks when year-round intensive grazing is impossible?
Answer
Hay, such as timothy or orchard grass
In scenarios where the environment does not permit continuous, year-round grazing, harvested forages are required to bridge the nutritional gap and form the backbone of the feeding program. Hay, specifically good quality grass hay such as timothy or orchard grass, is utilized to constitute the bulk of the diet under these conditions. While yaks can tolerate coarser feeds, hay serves as the primary roughage replacement when fresh pasture is unavailable.

Related Questions
What vegetation primarily comprises the natural forage of wild yaks?What necessitates a high minimum caloric intake for a wild yak during winter?What is the required crude protein range for lactating female yaks?What is the approximate Net Energy for Maintenance (NEm) density needed by a milk-producing domestic yak?What becomes indispensable for domestic yaks when year-round intensive grazing is impossible?What specific feeds form the nutritional base for domestic yaks at the Toronto Zoo?What physiological constraint arises if a yak diet is too high in grain concentrates?What is an actionable step for producers monitoring the stress of seasonal feed transition?What substance serves as the yak's primary energy source absorbed through the rumen wall?Why is adequate water intake non-negotiable, especially with high-fiber yak diets?Despite supplementation for production, what must remain the base of the yak diet due to ruminant structure?