According to the (Chinese)Provincial annals of livestockbreeds, there are 12 officially recognized breeds of domestic yak in China:the Jiulong yak and Maiwa yak in Sichuan, Tianzhu White yak and Gannan yak inGansu, Pali yak, Jiali ("Alpine") yak and Sibu yak in Tibet, Huanhu yak andPlateau yak in Qinghai, Bazhou yak in Xinjiang and Zhongdian yak in Yunnan, andone other, the "Long-hair-forehead yak" in Qinghai - which does not, however,meet all the criteria used to define a yak breed. Among these, the Plateau yak,Maiwa yak, Jiulong yak, Tianzhu White yak and Jiali ("Alpine") yak are alsoincluded in the publicationBovine breeds in China.
The yak of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau yak (often calledPlateau or Grassland yak) and those of the Henduan mountain Alpine yak (oftencalled Alpine or Valley yak) have long been regarded as "types". Thisclassification was initially based on the geographic and topographic parametersof their habitats and on the body size of different yak populations in thedifferent environments. Although there are some differences between the maintypes in appearance and in aspects of their performance - as there are alsoamong the breeds - it is not yet resolved to what extent such differences aregenetic and to what extent they derive from varying conditions in the areas inwhich these yak populations are found.
In this chapter, the main characters of 11 of the principalbreeds are reviewed. In addition, information is given on an "improved" strainof yak, named Datong yak, which was started by crossbreeding between Huanhu yakand wild yak (using artificial insemination) and subsequently developed on theDatong Yak Farm in Qinghai. (The Datong yak is not at present classified as abreed because of its limited numbers).
Outside China, most notably in Mongolia and in countries ofthe CIS (formerly Soviet Union), yak are usually referred to by a namedesignating the area where they are kept or the area from which they have come.Whether this constitutes different breeds in the genetic sense is a matter fordebate and is not generally claimed.
The yak was listed by Linnaeus (1766) asBosgrunniens, the same genus as other domestic cattle. However, in themiddle of the nineteenth century the yak was listed asPoephagusgrunniens (Gray, 1843) on the grounds of morphological distinctions fromboth other cattle and from bison. There was a return toBos grunniensfollowing Lydekker (1898), and this form has continued to be used to thepresent. More recently, however, thePoephagus classification hasreturned and been considered as the most appropriate for reasons discussed byCorbet (1978) and by Olsen (1990, 1991) following a re-examination of theavailable fossil evidence. The namePoephagus grunniens has been adoptedincreasingly, over recent years - but is by no means universally accepted.Clearly, this is a matter of considerable interest and concern to taxonomists.Since both theBos and thePoephagus genera have their strongadherents in respect to the yak, it will be surprising if this debate endsanytime soon (see also Chapter 15 for new evidence favouringPoephagus).Fortunately, both camps agree on the species name ofgrunniens on accountof the characteristic grunting noise made by the yak.
The yakhas the same number of chromosomes (60) asBos taurus andBos indicus and interbreeds with both; the femalehybrids being fertile and the male hybrids sterile. The yak will also interbreedwith bison - again, the female hybrids are fertile, but not the males (Deakinet al., 1935). (These authors also report that the yak-bison hybridshowed stamina and speed to a "remarkable degree".)
Domestic yak differ from wild yak in being smaller and, notsurprisingly, in temperament (see Chapter 1). It is not clear whether thesedifferences have arisen because of differences in the selection pressures onwild and domestic yak or whether and to what extent genetic drift and inbreedinghave contributed. However, there are many attributes in common between wild anddomestic yak; broadly speaking, they share a similar environment and, as alreadynoted, they will interbreed without difficulty, given the opportunity.
By crossing wild yak bulls with the Huanhu yak on the DatongYak Farm, using artificial insemination, a "new" strain of yak has beendeveloped (see section, A new strain of Datong yak in Qinghai). Moreover, thesemen from the wild yak and semi-wild yak bulls have been extensively used withthe intention of improving domestic yak productivity in Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan,Gansu and Xinjiang (see Chapter 11, part 1). In former times, it was notuncommon for wild yak bulls to wander among domestic yak herds within theirterritory and mate with them (cf. Chapter 10). Crosses of wild and domestic yakand, consequently, their special qualities have been known for a long time toherdsmen in the vicinity of wild yak territory.
Twelve yak breeds were officially recognized by committees ofyak experts on the basis of intensive investigations in the six main yak-raisingprovinces in China. Results of these deliberations published in the provincialannals of livestock breeds in the 1980s and discussed in many other publications(Lei Huanzhang, 1982; Editing Committee [Qinghai], 1983; Department of AnimalHusbandry and Veterinary Medicine in Gansu, 1986; Editing Committee [Sichuan],1987; Liu Zuboet al., 1989; Cai Li, 1989, 1992; Zhang Rongchang, 1989;Zhong Jincheng, 1996; Bhu Chong, 1998; Han Jianlin, 2000; Ji Qiumei,etal., 2002). The recognized breeds are the Jiulong yak and Maiwa yak inSichuan, Tianzhu White yak and Gannan yak in Gansu, Pali yak, Jiali (Alpine) yakand Sibu yak in Tibet, Huanhu yak, Plateau yak and the "long-hair-forehead" yakin Qinghai, Bazhou yak in Xinjiang and Zhongdian yak in Yunnan. For this book'spresent purpose, the "long-hair-forehead yak" of Qinghai province is notconsidered further because it does not match the definition of a breed due toits random distribution in herds of both the Huanhu and Plateau yak. Theremaining 11 breeds will be described here in some detail. However, all 11breeds are distinguished only by origin, location and some small differences inproductive characteristics (which might be attributable to the locality). Thereis almost no evidence available of the magnitude of any geneticdifferences.
The domestic yak of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (known as thePlateau or Grassland yak) and those of the Henduan mountain range (known asAlpine or Valley yak) in China have been regarded as "types" for a long time.This classification was initially based on the geographic and topographicparameters of their habitats and on the body size of the different yakpopulations (Cai Li, 1985). In 1982, a number of Chinese experts on the yakagreed to a broad classification of domestic yak into these two principal types(Plateau and Alpine) based on body conformation. The classification also tookaccount of the ecological and social-economic conditions in which the yak werekept and evidence of any selection that had taken place. In general, it wasthought that artificial selection applied to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau typeduring its development was less than that applied to the Henduan Alpine type(Cai Li, 1989).
Other classification suggestions have arisen from time to timebut have not been subsequently adopted. Although there are some differencesbetween the main types in appearance and in aspects of their performance - asthere are among the breeds - it is not yet resolved to what extent suchdifferences are genetic and to what extent they derive from the differentconditions in the areas in which these yak populations are found. Even the onceapparently clear distinction between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the HenduanAlpine types has become blurred or ignored in recent literature.
To resolve the question of the relative contribution ofheredity and environment to the apparent differences among the breeds of yak,one would require comparisons of them and of the crosses between them at thesame location and at the same time. Better still, such comparisons should berepeated at a number of different locations typical of the different ecologicalhabitats associated with the breeds of yak. If that were done, it might beexpected that outward appearance associated with colour, hair and horn typesand, to some extent, body conformation would remain largely distinct. However,differences in aspects such as body size and milk production, as well asreproductive performance, might converge in a common environment. But the extentof such effects cannot be predicted. Currently, genetic approaches usingchromosomal and protein polymorphisms, mitochondrial DNA RFLP (restrictedfragment length polymorphism), mitochondrial DNA sequencing and microsatellitegenotyping are being introduced to the study of yak to estimate the geneticdistance among breeds and some aspects of breed differentiation (see Chapter15).
Plateau yak of Qinghai
This yak, now classified as a breed, is found on the coldhighland pasture of southern and northern Qinghai province where the wild yakdistribution overlapped with it, particularly in former times. Crossing betweenthem is thus assumed to have taken place. Its population numbers around threemillion (Han Jianlin, 2000). The Plateau yak of Qinghai looks similar to thewild yak in body conformation. Among domestic yak breeds it stands tall, has arelatively large body weight and big head. Both sexes are horned. Similar towild yak, it has greyish-white hair down its back and around the muzzle and eyesockets. It adapts well to the cold and humid climate at high elevation (seeTable 2.1a). The majority of these yak are black-brown in colour (71.8 percent)and the rest are chestnut (7.8 percent), grey (6 percent), spotted (1.7 percent)and white (0.8 percent) (Lei Huanzhang, 1982; Editing Committee [Qinghai], 1983;Liu Zuboet al., 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table2.1b.
Huanhu yak of Qinghai
This breed is found in the transitional zone around theQinghai Lake in Qinghai province where the grasslands are predominantlysemi-arid and consist of meadow pasture and neighbouring areas consist of dryGobi and semi-Gobi pastures. It is believed that herds of this strain weredomesticated and transferred to this area by the Qiang people, the predecessorsof the present Tibetans, and by the Tufan people, beginning 10 000 years ago upthrough their later migrations. Around 310 A.D., Mongolian immigrants usedMongolian cattle to hybridize with the local yak to improve the relatively lowproductivity of the animals. Accordingly, the Huanhu yak, numbering about onemillion (Han Jianlin, 2000), contains some remnants of cattle blood from thetime of its origins, and this may account for some of its differences from thePlateau yak (Liu Zuboet al., 1989). Compared to the Plateau yak, theHuanhu has a relatively smaller body size and finer structure, a wedge-shapedhead, a narrower and longer nose that is mostly concave in the middle, a smallerbut broad mouth, a thinner neck, deeper chest, narrower buttock, longer legs andsmaller, but strong solid feet with a hard base to them. Most of the animals arehornless; those with horns have a fine, long and slightly curved set of horns.The colours are varied, but the majority is black-brown (64.3 percent); amongthe rest, there are grey animals (10.3 percent), white-spotted (10.7 percent)chestnut-brown (4.7 percent), white (3 percent) and other colours (6.9 percent)(Lei Huanzhang, 1982; Editing Committee [Qinghai], 1983; Liu Zuboet al.,1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Tianzhu White yak of Gansu
The Tianzhu White breed (see Figure 2.1) is found in Tianzhucounty of Gansu province, which is located in the eastern end of the Qilianmountains and the northern edge of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (102°02' -103°29'E; 36°29' - 37°41'N). Its main distribution borders theMenyuan and Huzhu counties of Qinghai where a few white yak are also found.Generally, 2 - 3 percent of all yak populations are white individuals - thoughthese are not regarded as part of the Tianzhu White breed. Because the white yakhair is easily dyed into different colours, it has been highly valued in localmarkets. On account of this, herdsmen who had migrated from Qinghai started toselect and breed pure white herds about 120 years ago. A more intensive breedingprogramme started in 1981. Currently, there are around 60 000 of the whiteindividuals (Liang Yulin and Zhang Haimin, 1998; Zhang Haimin and Liang Yulin,1998). The breed has a medium body size and fine structure, a well-developedforepart but a less-developed rear part and strong but short legs. And there arebig differences in size between the two sexes. Compared to the females, themales have larger heads with a wider forehead, longer and coarser horns with avisible contour, a larger mouth and broader muzzle, thinner lips, smaller noseand a coarser neck. The sex dimorphism is greater in the Tianzhu White yak thanin other breeds. In the total population of the Tianzhu White breed in Gansu andQinghai, around half the individuals have only white hair and skin with slightlyred eye sockets. They are typical albinos. The rest are white but with colouredspots, mostly around the eye sockets. This colour helps to reduce problems tothe eyes from the strong ultraviolet irradiation at high altitudes (Pu Ruitanget al., 1982; Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine inGansu, 1986; Zhang Rongchang, 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table2.1b.
Gannan yak of Gansu
Yak raising in the Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture ofGansu (100°46' - 104°45'E; 33°06' - 35°43'N), borderingSichuan and Qinghai, for long has been based on the same yak from theQinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Frequent exchange of breeding animals continues. Thereare about 700 000 animals of this breed (Han Jianlin, 2000). It has a strongbody conformation and well-developed muscles, a relatively large skull, a short,wide and slightly protruding forehead, a long and concave nose with externallyexpanded muzzle, a square mouth with thin lips, horned (48 - 97 percent indifferent herds) or hornless, small ears, round eyes, a well-developed chest andbelly and short, strong legs with small feet. Black is the predominant colour(76.8 percent of the animals); among the rest, the colours are white-spotted onblack (15.8 percent), grey (6 percent) and yellow and white (1.4 percent). Themales have longer and coarser horns with wider distance between the bases and astronger neck than the females. The females have a small udder with shortnipples (Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine in Gansu, 1986;Zhang Rongchang, 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Pali yak of Tibet
This breed is mainly found in Yadong county of Shigatseprefecture of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (approximately 88°8'E,27°5'N), which borders western Bhutan and India. It has a strong andwell-developed body conformation that is rectangular, a short skull with a wideforehead, a big round mouth with thin lips, small eyes, broad muzzle, smallnose, a short, strong neck, a deep wide chest and large heart girth, a largebelly and short, strong legs with small solid feet. Most of the animals havehorns with wide bases. Black is the dominant body colour (87 percent); the restare spotted black (11 percent) and brown (2 percent) (Tang Zhenyuet al.,1981; Liu Zuboet al., 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table2.1b.
Sibu yak of Tibet
This breed is found in Medrogungkar county (approximately92°40'E; 29°120'N) in the southeastern Lhasa municipality of Tibet. Ithas a large head with externally expanded horns, a rectangular-shaped bodyconformation with a straight back (Dou Yaozonget al., 1984; Liu Zuboet al., 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Jiali (Alpine) yak of Tibet
This breed is found in the Jiali (Lhari in Tibetan) county ofthe Nakchu prefecture (approximately 93°40'E; 31°N) of Tibet at thesouthern edge of the Nyenchen Thangla mountains. It has a relatively large bodyshape with a deep and wide chest, and it is mostly horned (83 percent). Comparedto the females, males have coarser and stronger horns with a wide distancebetween the bases. Females have a thinner neck, straighter back, a larger bellyand shorter legs than the males. Eighty percent of the animals have awhite-spotted head or a completely white head. Half of them are white-spottedblack, 41 percent are pure black or with only a white tail and the remaining 9percent are white, brown or grey (NIAHet al., 1982; Liu Zuboetal. 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Jiulong yak of Sichuan
This breed (see Figure 2.2) belongs to the Jiulong county ofSichuan province, which is located on the southeastern edge of theQinghai-Tibetan Plateau (approximately 101°33'E, 28°39'N). It has along history of development, but today's herds are the descendants of arelatively small population that survived a severe outbreak of Rinderpest some150 years ago. The population now numbers around 50 000 animals (Zhong Jincheng,1996; Lin Xiaowei and Zhong Guanghui, 1998). The Jiulong yak has a large bodyheight and body size, with a deep and wide chest and a medium-sized head. Thebreed is horned. Males, compared to females, have a shorter head but with awider forehead and wider-based horns, bigger eyes, thinner lips andwell-developed teeth, a finer neck, straighter back and shorter legs. Femaleshave a relatively long neck. Black is the predominant colour (61.7 percent); therest are black-and-white (24.6 percent) and white-spotted on black (13.7percent) (Editing Committee [Sichuan], 1987; Cai Li, 1989, 1992; Liu Zuboetal. 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Maiwa yak of Sichuan
This breed (see Figure 2.3), numbering around 600 000 animals(Lin Xiaowei and Zhong Guanghui, 1998), belongs to Hongyuan county of Sichuanprovince (approximately 102°33'E; 32°48'N), which borders Gansu andQinghai provinces The breed originated from almost the same locality as thepresent-day Jiulong yak. However, it was taken by a migratory tribe to itspresent habitat, passing through southern Qinghai, in the 1910s. During thatmigration, matings occurred with other domestic yak on route and with wild yakwhen it first settled in Hongyuan, when wild yak were still known to come downfrom Qinghai. The resulting infusions of genes are thought to have improved theoriginal type. The better pasture and ecological environment of the new habitatassisted its development. It has a medium-sized head and a wide flat forehead,straight back, a well-developed belly, a long body with short legs and smallsolid feet. Most of the animals are horned. Black accounts for 64.2 percent ofthe population's colouring; the rest are black with a white-spotted head andtail (16.8 percent), cyan (a very dark blue) (8.1 percent), brown (5.2 percent),black-and-white (4.2 percent) or other colours (1.5 percent) (Cai Bolin, 1981;Editing Committee [Sichuan], 1987; Cai Li, 1989, 1992; Liu Zuboet al.1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Bazhou yak of Xinjiang
This breed is found mainly in Hejing county (83° -93°56'E, 36°11' - 43°20'N) in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.Their presence dates to 1890 when around 60 animals were brought from Tibet(Zhou Yiqing, 1980); another 176 animals were introduced in 1920 (Dong Baoshen,1986). In the late 1980s, some breeding bulls were purchased from the Datong YakFarm in Qinghai to refresh the blood (Dong Baoshen, 1986). There are now about70 000 Bazhou yak (Fang Guangxin and Liu Wujun, 1998). This breed has a largerectangular body, a heavy head, a short and wide forehead, big round eyes, smallears, a broad muzzle and thin lips, a wide chest, large belly and strong legswith small, solid feet. The majority (77.3 percent) have fine, long horns. Blackis the main colour, but some are black and white, brown or grey and white (Galaet al., 1983; Yu Daxin and Qian Defang, 1983; Zhang Rongchang, 1989).Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
Zhongdian yak of Yunnan
This breed is found in the Zhongdian and Deqin counties(99°50' - 100 50'E, 26°85' - 28 40'N) in the very northern part ofYunnan province, at the southern end of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau where itborders Tibet and Sichuan. In general, the Zhongdian yak has had frequentexchanges of blood with yak in Sichuan. There are about 20 000 animals of thisbreed (Zhong Jincheng, 1996; Han Jianlin, 2000). It has a strong bodyconformation, large round eyes, small ears, a wide forehead, a deep chest,straight back, well-developed legs with large feet and a short tail. Both sexeshave horns. There is relatively large variation in body size. The majority ofthe animals are black (62.4 percent), a black-and-white colouring is found among27.5 percent of them, while the rest are black with white-spots on the forehead,legs and tail (Liu Guoliang, 1980; Duan Zhongxuan and Huang Fenyin, 1982; ZhangRongchang, 1989). Their productivity is shown in Table 2.1b.
A new strain of Datong yak in Qinghai
This is the only improved yak population developeddeliberately by crossing wild yak bulls with domestic yak females with theintention of creating a new breed of yak. The development is taking place on theDatong Yak Farm in Qinghai (approximately 101°70'E, 32°N and at analtitude of around 3 200 m). For this purpose, one wild yak bull captured in theKunlun mountains and two in the Qilian mountains (with an altitude of more than5 000 m) were taken to Datong Yak Farm and trained for semen collection between1983 and 1986.
Figure 2.1 Tianzhu White yak(Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau type)
Figure 2.2 Jiulong yak (HenduanAlpine type) a) male
Figure 2.2 Jiulong yak (HenduanAlpine type) b) female
Figure 2.3 Maiwa yak(Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau type) a) male
Figure 2.3 Maiwa yak(Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau type) b) female
The semen of these three bulls is used to artificiallyinseminate the Huanhu yak cows. To date this has produced 1 086 crossbredanimals (F1), which formed the foundation generation. Then six F1 breeding bullswere selected from that group. The next generation consisted of 1 700 breedingcows, which were of both the F2 type (from mating F1 females to F1 males) andback-crosses (B1) (from mating F1 males with the domestic yak females). Thesubsequent generation (designated the second generation in the programme) of 29breeding bulls and 542 breeding cows was obtained by mating B1 to each other, F1males with the B1 females and B1 males with the F1 females. That generation, inturn, was used to create a nucleus herd. A third generation was created byintermating the offspring from the second generation. In a similar way, a fourthgeneration was produced from the third. By the year 2000, there were about 2 000animals in the nucleus herd at the Datong Yak Farm where most performancerecords have been taken and where most of the selection was practiced. A further20 000 animals in multiplier herds were situated at three locations: the DatongYak Farm in Qinghai and the Shandan and Liqiaru farms in Gansu. The animals inthe multiplier herds derived from the third and fourth generations at the DatongYak Farm. In total, 8 700 breeding animals, from the foundation to the thirdgeneration, had their productivity recorded over a 15-year period.
The objective in the nucleus herd was to control inbreedingand to select breeding bulls to improve yak productivity. The average inbreedingcoefficient was estimated as 0.094 (0.031 - 0.125). The selection of bulls wasmade first around the time of birth using their own birth weight (adjusted forthe parity of the dam) and the body conformation, birth weights and growth oftheir parents. Ten percent of the bulls were discarded at this stage. A secondselection took place when the bull calves were six months old. Body weight andconformation before winter were considered, and weight was adjusted for parityand month of calving. Between 30 and 50 percent of the bull calves were rejectedat that stage. A third selection was conducted at age 18 months. This wasregarded as a particularly important time for further selection as the animalswere weaned and had had the opportunity to express their performance, in termsof growth and body conformation, under both a harsh winter season and thefollowing summer season with adequate nutrition. Sixty percent of those soevaluated were rejected from further consideration. A final selection was madewhen the animals were between two and a half and three and half years old. Atthis time, the bulls were each mated to between 15 and 20 cows to check fortheir reproductive capacity and the offspring phenotype of potential replacementbulls. Each bull's own growth and body conformation was also reconsidered. Halfof the bulls taking part at this stage were discarded. After these fourselections, around 11 percent of the original group remained for use asreplacement breeding bulls.
The Datong yak looks not dissimilar to the wild yak with itsgreyish-white mouth, nose, sockets and grey back line. The males are horned andfemales are either horned or hornless. The body conformation seems to be of ameat type with good body weight, straight back, a wide chest, and long, stronglegs. The body colour is typically black, though there may also be a few brownhairs. The body measurements and the selection progress of the Datong yak areshown in Tables 2.2 and 2.3. In addition, the milk and fibre yields of theDatong yak were recorded and compared with the Huanhu yak and are reported in anumber of publications (Bo Jialinet al., 1998a, b; Wang Minqiangetal., 1998).
Not surprisingly in view of the relative isolation ofdifferent areas from each other, at least in times past, many distinct breeds ofyak have developed in China. Five of them are listed as breeds at national levelin theBovine breeds of China (Institute of Animal Science [China],1986). These are the Plateau yak, Maiwa yak, Jiulong yak, Tianzhu White yak andJiali (Alpine) yak. The Provincial Administration of Standardization in bothGansu and Sichuan also issued breed criteria for the Maiwa yak, the Jiulong yakand the Tianzhu White yak (TAHVS and DAS, 1985; Zhong Guanghuiet al.,1995; Wen Yongliet al., 1995).
Some information on the various breeds is shown in Tables 2.1aand 2.1b. Three of the breeds are shown in Figures 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3.
From the available literature, it appears that yak in mostcountries outside China are not specifically classified as "breeds". Instead,they are referred to as yak of a particular area in which they are found or fromwhich they have been brought, or they may take their name from the people of thearea. For example, Sarbagishevet al. (1989) referred in this manner tothe yak in various parts of the former USSR: "Yaks bred in Kirgizia areconsiderably larger than those in Tajikistan." They are careful to note amanagement difference between these two populations of yak so as not to draw theconclusion that the differences are necessarily genetic. In the same manner,Zagdsuren (1994) referred to the country of origin when discussing hybridizationof yak with cattle of other species. Smirnovet al. (1990) referred toyak of "Tuva type" when writing about meat production trials in the northernCaucasus. Verdiev and Erin (1981) referred to Pamir, Altai and Buryatia types,which are the names for the areas or country where the yak are located. Inwriting about domestic livestock in Nepal, Epstein (1977) also did not separateyak into breeds. It thus appears that differences among "local" populations ofyak are recognized, but whether these constitute different breeds, in thegenetic sense, is a matter for further investigation. Palet al. (1994)classified the yak of India into a number of types, as described in the sectionon India in Chapter 11, part 2.For further general information onyak in other countries, see also Chapter 11.
Table 2.1aMain breeds of yak in China andobservations on distribution and characteristics
[Source: adapted and revised from Cai Li, 1985]
Location (province or autonomous region) | Breed | Main area | No. ('000) | Topography | Pasture type | Grass type (predominant type) | Altitude (m) | Average annual temp. (°C) | Rainfall (mm) |
Sichuan | Jiulong* | Jiulong county and Shade district of Kangding county in Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture | 30 | High mountain intersecting valleys | Alpine bush and meadow | Mixed sward | >3 500 | 2.0 | 900 |
Maiwa* | Hongyuan and Ruoergai counties in Aba Tibetan and Qiang autonomous prefecture | 200 | Hill-shaped plateau | Cold meadow and marsh | Gramineae, cyperaceae | 3 400-3 600 | 1.1 | 728 | |
Yunnan | Zhongdian | Zhongdian county in Diqing Tibetan autonomous prefecture | Hill-shaped plain among mountains | Alpine bush and meadow | Mixed sward and grass | 3 276 | 5.4 | 620 | |
Gansu | Tianzhu White* | Tianzhu Tibetan autonomous county | 30 | Broad plateau and valley | Sub-alpine meadow | Many bush on n. slopes; Gramineae Cyperaceae | [3 000] | 0.1 | 300-416 |
Gannan | Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture | Hill-shaped plateau | Alpine and sub-alpine | Gramineae, Cyperaceae | 3 300-4 400 | 0.4 | 664 | ||
Qinghai | Plateau* | Northern and southern Qinghai | 3 400 | Plateau | Alpine meadow | Gramineae, Cyperaceae | 3 700-4 700 | From -2 to -5.7 | 282-774 |
Huanhu | Mountainous region around the Qinghai Lake | Mountain | Sub-alpine meadow, part forest grassland | Grass | 2 000-3 400 | From 0.1 to 5.1 | 269-595 | ||
Tibet | Jiali (Alpine)* | Alpine area of Tibet; Jiali county | 1 400 | Plateau, mountain | Alpine bush and meadow | Mixed sward | >4 000 | 0 | 694 |
Pali | Yadong county | Plateau, mountain | Alpine meadow | Gramineae, Cyperaceae | 4 300 | 1.7 | 468 | ||
Sibu | Medrogungkar county | Plateau, mountain | Alpine bush and meadow | Mixed sward | 4 000-5 500 | 0 | 700 | ||
Xinjang | Bazhou | Centre of Tianshan mountains | Mountain | Sub-alpine meadow | Grass | 2 400 | -4.7 | 285 |
* Listed as national breeds in China. ** Estimatedbody weight = {(heart girth [m])2x (body length [m]) x70}.
Table 2.1b Main breeds of yak in China and observations ondistribution and characteristics
Breed | Sex | No. | Body measurements (cm) | Body weight** (kg) | Source | ||||
Height at withers | Body length | Heart girth | Cannon bone circumference | ||||||
Sichuan | Jiulong* | M | 15 | 138 | 178 | 219 | 23.6 | 594 | GAAHB and YRO, 1980a, b; Cai Li, 1989 |
F | 708 | 117 | 140 | 179 | 18.2 | 314 | |||
Maiwa* | M | 17 | 126 | 157 | 193 | 19.8 | 414 | Cai Li, 1989 | |
F | 219 | 106 | 131 | 155 | 15.6 | 222 | |||
Yunnan | Zhongdian | M | 23 | 119 | 127 | 162 | 17.6 | 235 | Duan Zhongxuan and Huang Fenying, 1982 |
F | 186 | 105 | 117 | 154 | 16.1 | 193 | |||
Gansu | Tianzhu White* | M | 17 | 121 | 123 | 164 | 18.3 | 264 | Pu Ruitanget al., 1982; Zhang Rongchang, 1989 |
F | 88 | 108 | 114 | 154 | 16.8 | 190 | |||
Gannan | M | 10 | 126 | 141 | 189 | 22.4 | 354 | Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine in Gansu, 1986; Zhang Rongchang, 1989 | |
F | 159 | 109 | 122 | 157 | 16.1 | 210 | |||
Qinghai | Plateau* | M | 21 | 129 | 151 | 194 | 20.1 | 398 | Editing Committee [Qinghai], 1983 |
F | 208 | 111 | 132 | 157 | 15.8 | 228 | |||
Huanhu | M | 14 | 114 | 144 | 169 | 18.3 | 287 | Editing Committee [Qinghai], 1983 | |
Tibet | Jiali (Alpine)* | M | 8 | 130 | 154 | 197 | 22.4 | 421 | NIAHet al., 1982; Liu Zuboet al., 1989 |
F | 187 | 107 | 133 | 162 | 16.1 | 243 | |||
Pali | M | 59 | 111 | 123 | 155 | 18.3 | 288 | Tang Zhenyuet al., 1981; Liu Zuboet al., 1989 | |
F | 321 | 109 | 121 | 152 | 15.2 | 217 | |||
Sibu | M | 4 | 132 | 149 | 185 | 21.0 | 358 | Dou Yaozonget al., 1984; Liu Zuboet al., 1989 | |
F | 53 | 109 | 127 | 153 | 15.9 | 212 | |||
Xinjiang | Bazhou | M | 33 | 127 | 140 | 192 | 20.7 | 359 | Dong Baoshen, 1986 |
F | 265 | 111 | 124 | 171 | 16.3 | 257 | |||
* Listed as national breeds in China. ** Estimatedbody weight = {(heart girth [m])2x (body length [m]) x70}.
Table 2.2Body measurements and weights of the firstgeneration Datong yak in comparison to the Huanhu yak on the Datong Yak Farm[Source: Bo Jialinet al., 1998b]
Group | No. | Age (month) | Height at withers (cm) | Body length (cm) | Heart girth (cm) | Cannon bone circumf. (cm) | Body weight (kg) |
Datong yak | 7a | 6 | 88.4 ± 5.6 | 87.1 ± 5.2 | 106.8 ± 4.8 | 12.0 ± 0.7 | 74.7 ± 10.4 |
Huanhu yak | 7 | 6 | 79.4 ± 3.4 | 52.0 ± 4.6 | 96.4 ± 5.1 | 11.3 ± 1.1 | 58.8 ± 10.2 |
Difference | 5.1* | 5.1* | 10.4** | 0.7 | 14.88** | ||
Datong yak | 7 | 18 | 103.1 ± 2.4 | 108.5 ± 4.7 | 141.6 ± 4.7 | 14.6 ± 0.9 | 150.5 ± 56.1 |
Huanhu yak | 7 | 18 | 100.1 ± 3.5 | 103.2 ± 2.8 | 131.3 ± 4.5 | 13.7 ± 0.4 | 117.7 ± 17.4 |
Difference | 2.7* | 5.3* | 10.3** | 0.9 | 32.8** |
Note: * P<0.05; ** P<0.01. a: Pooled datafrom 4 females and 3 males of both groups.
Table 2.3Generation progress of body weights ofanimals in the nucleus herd at the Datong Yak Farm (data from males [M] andfemales [F] pooled) [Source: Wang Minqianget al., 1998]
Item | Generation 0 | 1st generation | 2nd generation |
Birth weight | 11.49 ± 0.98 | 12.04 ± 0.89 | 12.42 ± 0.89 |
No. | 10 M and 11 F | 12 M and 15 F | 14 M and 19 F |
Weight at 6 months | 71.02 ± 7.80 | 74.71 ± 10.47 | 82.19 ± 12.91 |
No. | 10 M and 15 F | 4 M and 3 F | 12 M and 19 F |
Weight at 18 months | 135.08 ± 10.18 | 150.50 ± 6.07 | 154.40 ± 11.18 |
No. | 8 M and 12 F | 9 M and 12 F | 8 M and 12 F |
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