What are the precautions for yak farming? A detailed explanation of the key points of feeding and management
The yak is a cattle breed unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau of China, and it is also one of the treasures the Tibetan people rely on for survival. With the current prosperity of the yak market, people in many parts of China are gradually heading to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region to raise yaks. Because they lack experience, the results are always less than ideal. Today, Qinnong Network will introduce the important issues to note in yak farming.
1. Daily management
The construction of the cattle shed must change with the seasons. Generally speaking, keeping out the cold in winter and providing ventilation in summer are the most common approaches. Pay attention to insect prevention in daily life. The most common problem on yaks is undoubtedly the cattle warble fly (Hypoderma bovis), so when raising them in pens you must check carefully and be sure to vaccinate on schedule. Many people think that because yaks grow in cold high-altitude regions they have strong resistance and therefore pay no attention, but this idea is completely wrong. In daily life you must pay attention to the humidity of the cattle shed, something many people overlook. If the shed is too damp, it can cause severe frostbite in yaks. At night you must also guard against attacks by wild creatures, which is very common in Tibet.
2. Precautions for grazing and feeding
When grazing yaks, be sure to follow the principle of far first, then near, that is, in normal weather you can appropriately graze them farther away. This helps maintain the yaks' amount of exercise, improves their cold resistance and health, and also gives you some free time when grazing far away is inconvenient. Second, for a balanced diet for the yaks, while grazing them on forage, it is best to also buy some coarse feed such as wheat straw or rice husks. This avoids problems in the yaks caused by feeding.
3. How to handle the transition between winter and spring
The alternation of winter and spring is the period when problems most easily arise in yak farming. Many farmers handle it improperly at this time and thus suffer serious losses. Generally speaking, as soon as spring arrives, the snowmelt in many areas of the Tibetan region has not yet melted, so going out to graze easily leads the yaks to drink ice water, harming their health. Therefore, before going out to graze, be sure to prepare enough warm water for the yaks to drink their fill. Second, after returning from grazing, be sure to spread straw in the yak shed to keep them warm and prevent frostbite. On winter nights, try to check the cattle shed to see whether the yaks have any frostbite problems.
In yak farming, the main thing to pay attention to is maintaining the yaks' body temperature, so do not overlook this core point. Second, for feeding cows after giving birth, it is best to use hot water together with coarse feed to speed up the recovery of the female yaks.