What necessitates a high minimum caloric intake for a wild yak during winter?
Answer
Significant energy expenditure required just to maintain body temperature in cold, wind-swept environments
A critical factor in the survival of wild yaks, especially during severe winters when vegetation quality drops drastically, is the constant, substantial energy drain associated with thermoregulation. The extreme cold and wind-swept nature of their high-altitude habitat demand significant caloric output merely to maintain core body temperature. Even if the available diet is poor in other specific nutrients, the overall minimum caloric intake must remain high solely to cover this mandatory energy expenditure for survival.
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?