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

Barsila, Shanker R; Devkota, Naba R; Kreuzer, Michael; Marquardt, Svenja

doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1175-4

SpringerPlus

Table 2 Performance of hybrids (low and high SD, n = 4 and n = 8, respectively) and in comparison to yaks (Sites 2–4, low SD, n = 4)

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

Traits	SD	Pasture site (S) and stocking density (SD) effects (hybrids only)^A									Site (S) and Genotype (G) effect (low SD only)
		Site					SEM	P-values			Genotype		SEM	P-values
		1	2	3	4	5	SEM	S	SD	S × SD	Hybrids^B	Yak^C	SEM	G	S	G × S
Initial body weight (kg)	Low	201^de	229^abc	255^ab	255^ab	262^ab	7.7	<0.001	0.98	0.59	247	210	6.1	<0.001	<0.001	0.25
Initial body weight (kg)	High	202^ce	229^bd	261^a	259^a	251^ab
Body weight change (g/day/animal)	Low	1,290^a	897^a	−653^b	347^ab	−497^b	238.6	<0.001	0.73	0.62	197	588	220.5	0.23	0.014	<0.001
Body weight change (g/day/animal)	High	673^a	834^a	−447^b	458^ab	−451^b
Energy-corrected milk (kg/day/animal)	Low	3.55^ab	3.99^a	3.04^b	2.94^bcd	1.93^efg	0.180	<0.001	<0.001	0.13	3.30	3.16	0.05	0.08	0.023	0.006
Energy-corrected milk (kg/day/animal)	High	3.02^bc	2.73^bce	2.40^cde	2.07^df	1.23^g
Pasture efficiency (g ECM/day and m²)^D	Low	4.13^bcd	2.68^d	2.70^d	2.80^bcd	2.75^bcd	0.335	<0.001	<0.001	0.014	2.71	2.66	0.04	0.32	0.003	0.012
Pasture efficiency (g ECM/day and m²)^D	High	7.00^a	3.68^c	4.27^b	3.93^bcd	3.50^bcd
Fat (g/day/animal)	Low	153^abc	182^a	139^b	144^bcd	99^ef	8.7	<0.001	<0.001	0.10	155	142	3.90	0.037	0.14	0.002
Fat (g/day/animal)	High	131^bcde	125^bcde	112^cde	103^de	62^f
Protein (g/day/animal)	Low	119^ab	123^a	92^bcd	80^cde	45^fg	5.7	<0.001	<0.001	0.22	98	107	3.58	0.08	<0.001	0.08
Protein (g/day/animal)	High	101^abc	84^cd	71^def	55^ef	30^g
Fat (%)	Low	5.31^de	5.88^bcde	5.81^cde	6.62^ab	7.12^a	0.163	<0.001	0.24	0.20	6.10	6.25	0.17	0.55	<0.001	0.019
Fat (%)	High	5.48^e	5.99^bcd	6.12^bc	7.06^a	7.05^a
Protein (%)	Low	4.16^ab	3.92^abc	3.85^abc	3.65^bcd	3.26^de	0.120	<0.001	0.56	1.00	3.81	4.68	0.05	<0.001	0.21	0.047
Protein (%)	High	4.22^a	3.98^ab	3.90^ab	3.75^bd	3.38^ce
Lactose (%)	Low	4.95^ab	4.92^bcd	4.92^bcd	4.90^cd	4.92^bcd	0.008	<0.001	0.38	0.69	4.92	4.98	0.01	<0.001	0.29	0.24
Lactose (%)	High	4.97^a	4.93^bcd	4.92^bcd	4.91^d	4.93^bc

SEM standard error of the mean.
^AMeans of the same variable for high and low SD across pasture sites carrying different superscripts differ at P < 0.05.
^BOnly values from low stocking density and only from Sites 2–4 (S2–S4) were used. Morning and evening milk was used for analysis.
^CAs yaks were accompanied by their calves, the weigh-suckle-weigh method was applied for evaluating the milk yield (see “Methods”). Only morning milk was available for analysis.
^DCalculated as ECM yield divided by m²/head of the respective SD per pasture site.

Back to article page