Herbage Mass Estimation in Relation to Yak-crossbred Milk Properties: a Case from Mauma Rangeland, Taplejung District, Nepal

A study was conducted in Olang Chung Gola VDC of Taplejung district, Nepal during June, 2010 to November, 2010 to determine the Chauri milk yield and its properties in relation to available herbage mass at transhumance system. The available herbage biomass was estimated in the first experiment using three different slope categories in a RCB design (<4%- plain category, 4-10% - gentle slope, and 12-16% - steep slope), each replicated for five times. The total fresh and dry weight of herbage mass were estimated three times (July, August and September), in a 90 days period. The sample from each slope category was also analyzed to determine CP, EE, NDF, ADF, ADL, cellulose, hemicelluloses and total ash. The second experiment was to determine Chauri milk yield and its properties in the same rangeland. The mean daily milk yield (kg) and milk composition of Chauries grazed in the selected rangelands were evaluated by using a 2×3×2 split- split plot design using months (two times ? viz; July as upward movement and September as downward movement during transhumance) as main plots, parity ( three parities of chauries viz; 2nd , 4th, 6th ) as sub plots and time of milking (two time).