Effects of different stocking densities on performance and activity of cattle × yak hybrids along a transhumance route in the Eastern Himalaya

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Table 1 Total biomass (air-dry matter) available and chemical composition of the forage selected per pasture site

Plant group	Pasture site					SEM	P value
Plant group	1	2	3	4	5	SEM	P value
Biomass (g/m²)	107^c	231^a	122^bc	199^ab	96^c	20.2	<0.001
Plant groups^A
Poaceae (%)	6^b	34^a	31^a	36^a	50^a	5.5	<0.001
Cyperaceae (%)	<1^b	22^a	27^a	24^a	16^ab	3.7	<0.001
Herbs (%)	92^a	43^b	39^b	40^b	34^b	4.6	<0.001
Chemical composition of the forage selected (g/kg dry matter)
Organic matter	881	813	916	902	917	–	–
Crude protein	260	218	190	196	91	–	–
Neutral detergent fiber	452	550	581	597	690	–	–
Acid detergent fiber^B	312	373	338	363	423	–	–
Acid detergent lignin^B	94	139	87	106	85	–	–
Hemicellulose	140	177	243	234	268	–	–
Cellulose	218	234	251	257	338	–	–

Means within a row carrying different superscripts differ at P < 0.05.
Recorded before starting the respective experimental measurements (Sites 1 and 5: 12 cuttings in n = 4 paddocks; Sites 2–4: 18 cuttings in n = 6 paddocks).
Values are means of samples pooled over 7 days of sampling with two samples per paddock (A, B), resulting in n = 8 samples for Sites 1 and 5 and n = 12 samples for Sites 2–4.
SEM standard error of the mean.
^ARemainder to 100% are’others’ (ferns, small shrubs, mosses) which are not shown.
^BA and B samples per paddock and site were pooled before analysis resulting in n = 2.