| Physical modification |
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Planting trees to provide shelter and shade [83] could be utilised wisely by avoiding forest degradation.
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Mud pens and other temporary pens used during winter [84] could be modified and used in summer.
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Concept of water collection tanks used for agriculture and household in the Himalaya can be utilised for yak drinking [82,85] during water shortage.
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| Breeding selection |
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Hybridization with hill cattle can produce an animal that is better adapted the rising ambient temperature and can utilise rangelands that are too high for cattle and too low for pure yak [86].
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Dimjo chauri (hybrids from mating cattle bulls with female yak) adapt well to both high and low-altitude areas and are more adaptable than Urang chauri (hybrids from mating yak bulls with local female cattle) [87,88].
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Selection of heat-tolerant yak will aid the identification of genes related to thermotolerance which, if incorporated into breeding programs, will produce more resilient genotypes [89].
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| Nutritional modification |
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Increased use of supplements would replace the reduced quantity and quality of the forage available improving productivity and performance. Suggested feed sources include feed blocks, concentrates and silage as well as mineral blocks to tackle potential mineral deficiencies [90], with particular attention being paid to feeding during the winter season [91].
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More active management of alpine pastureland is also likely to be beneficial. Renovation with high-quality forages (20–30% legumes and 70–80% grass is likely to be a cost-effective strategy [92]. This can either be achieved through re-seeding or through transplanting of roots and stems. This is likely to be most effective it is combined with regular weed control and well-regulated rotational grazing [88,92].
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Planting of tree fodder alongside pasture grasses will increase the availability of feed when pasture growth is limited [93]. Increased research on local forage and pasture species could be extremely valuable as it would allow the development of high-yielding and nutritious local plant varieties.
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