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PAST RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTS

Yak Anatomy

1.	Inter-institutional collaborative study on comparative anatomy of zebu, mithun and yak has been completed.

Yak Genetics

1.	Polymorphism in 3´ UTR of Nramp1 gene was found to be associated with resistance to brucellosis in yak. Frequencies of AA genotype and A allele were quite higher in brucellaseronegative (resistant) group (P<0.001) while frequencies of BB genotype and B allele were higher in seropositive (susceptible) group (P<0.05).
2.	An indication that 3´ UTR of Nramp1 gene may be associated with the occurrence of Chlamydophilaabortus infection in yak was derived based on the findings that within the seropositive group the frequency of BB genotype was significantly higher (P<0.001) and frequency of AB genotype was significantly lower with no individual of AA genotype.
3.	An easy, fast and cost effective technique of PCR followed by simple agarose gel electrophoresis was developed for genotyping yak at 3´UTR locus of Nramp1 gene which successfully replace the cumbersome SSCP-PAGE practiced in cattle and buffalo.
4.	Polymorphisms in coding sequence of TLR genes were reported in yak which is considered to be genetically less diversified. Two missense mutations in TLR2 genes were found (Val211Ile) and (Cys226Tyr). Six SNPs including two missense mutations- (Val507Ile and Val544Ile) were detected in TLR6 gene.
5.	The low-complexity region was not predictable for TLR 2 in yak (rare genotype) which encodes Ile at amino acid position 211 when SMART prediction of protein domain architecture was attempted.
6.	A simple reliable PCR-RFLP assay to identify male mediated introgression based on mutation in SRY gene was developed for identification of paternal origin of yak hybrids.
7.	An association between defensin genotypes with somatic cell count in yaks and cattle was observed.
8.	A RAPD fingerprinting technique useful for parentage detection of species hybrids and probing of meat adulteration was developed. RAPD markers able to distinguish different bovine species namely yak, mithun, cattle (taurine and indicine) and river buffalo were identified as well as the magnitudes of genetic relatedness among the species were estimated. RAPD analysis on five bovine species showed that yak shares highest genetic similarity with mithun (42%) followed by exotic cattle (27%), indicine cattle (29%) and buffalo (16%).
9.	An AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) allele was found with higher (P?0.05) frequency in the group of yaks with higher adult body. Frequency of that marker allele in the elite group was 78 % in male but only 66% in the female group. The overall frequency in the male and female groups was as 0.28 and 0.12, respectively.
10.	Based on microsatellite (30 loci and RAPD (10 primers) assay it was concluded that yaks of geographically isolated pockets and of distinct morphological types of India do not differ significantly on evolutionary scale.
11.	Studies on DNA polymorphism of leptin gene revealed a rare polymorphism at an additional Sau3AI restriction site in yaks.
12.	PCR-RFLP studies of TSPY/RSA1 in yak and buffalo produced fragments of 36,112, and 870bp; cattle produced fragments of 36,112,271 and 599bp fragments while cattle and yak hybrids produced cattle type patterns. SRY/Btr studies showed monomorphism in all the three species studied.
13.	Studies were conducted to investigate the polymorphisms in the candidate genes viz Growth Hormone (GH) gene, Growth Hormone Receptor gene and Insulin Like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) gene. The studies indicated that the polymorphism in IGF-1 is associated with birth weight.
14.	Indian yaks were categorized into five morphological types: Common, Bisonian, Bare-back, Hairy-forehead and White yak. Nine different coat color variations and nine horn patterns have been recorded.
15.	Detailed cytogenetic studies on pure yak and yak X hill cattle hybrids have been carried out and karyotypes and idiograms have been prepared.
16.	Genetic and phenotypic parameters of body weight at different was estimated for the first time in Indian yaks. It was found that weight at 6-month of age would be the best criteria of selection for desired body weight in yaks.

Yak Nutrition

1.	Complete feed blocks are being prepared with nonconventional feed stuff (maize stover); concentrate feed and binding materials (molasses) in the ratio of 60:37:3.
2.	Nutritional intervention in terms of mineral supplementation resulted in decreased age at puberty (from 3.5 to 4.5 years to 1.5 to 2.5 years), increased adult body weight (female: from 150-200 kg to 250-350 kg and male: from 250-300 to 450-550 kg), and better reproductive efficiency.
3.	Samples of soil, feeds, fodders, tree leaves, hair, and blood had been collected from some parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and processed. The analysis for different nutrients viz. CP, EE, CF, NFE, ADF, NDF, Total ash etc. had been done. Samples collected were utilized for analysis of mineral profile to know the mineral deficiency which reportedly reflects in low productive and reproductive performance of livestock in this region.
4.	In an effort to test feasibility of introducing exotic fodder in the farm, seeds of 51 varieties were obtained. Out of these, only five varieties of Dactylisglomerata (var, Amba, Sparta and Porto) and Phleumpratense (Barliza and Goliath) became successful. Extensive programme had been launched to propagate all these varieties at Nyukmadung farm complex.
5.	Nine varieties of Salyx were obtained from the RRL (CSIR), Jammu in an effort to afforest the farm areas (2750 m above msl) at Nyukmadung and the office premises at Dirang campus (1500 m a msl). Out of the nine, only three varieties viz., Salyxbabylonica, Salyxhumboltiana and Salyxpurpurea are doing well at 1500 m above msl.
6.	Utilization of coarse roughages viz., local dry grass, paddy straw and maize silage was studied in yaks during peak winter. The nutrient utilization in paddy straw was recorded to be higher. The DCP and TDN contents in the three roughages were 0.78 and 48.7; 0.77 and 61.9 and 4.99 and 67.5 kg per 100 kg DM respectively for local dry grass, paddy straw and maize silage.
7.	The chemical composition and nutritive value of locally available finger millet straw and maize kadbi have also been studied. The DCP and TDN contents of finger millet straw were 1.3 and 50.5 kg per 100 kg DM respectively whereas; the DCP and TDN contents of maize kadbi were 0.52 and 63.5 kg/100 kg DM.
8.	Effect of urea supplementation at different levels, over a basal diet of finger millet straw, in yaks on DM intake and nutrient utilization was studied. There was no significant effect on DM intake and DM digestibility co-efficients. However, TDN and DCP contents significantly increased with the increase in level of urea supplementation.
9.	The nutritive value of salyx tree fodder had been studied in yaks. The chemical composition of salyx tree leaves in terms of DM, EE, CP, NDF, ADF, TA and TCAO were 90.1, 2.3, 13.2, 51.2, 31.4, 9.9 and 74.6 percent respectively. The DCP and TDN contents were 7.06 and 58.9 kg/100 kg DM.
10.	Samples of locally available tree fodder have been collected, identified and analyzed for different nutritional parameters. All these tree fodder often fed to the yaks at Nyukmadung farm and found to be palatable to yaks. Samples of sometime other locally available feed stuff such as maize grain, paddy straw, millet straw, green oat, local dry grass etc have also been analyzed for different nutritional parameters.
11.	Mineral composition of twelve different tree leaves in terms of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn and Zn has also been studied. Most of the tree fodders were found to be rich source of Ca, Mg, K, Fe, and Mn. However, cobalt and copper contents were comparatively lower in most of the tree fodder.
12.	Soil, pasture and hair samples were collected from Nyukmadung Farm and some other yak pockets. The mineral profile in yak blood and milk has been studied. From the data available so far, the deficiency of copper and Mn in yak blood were obvious. Mn wasalso not detectable in yak milk.
13.	The chemical composition of yak milk was studied. The average fat, protein, total solid and total ash content was 7.87±0.84, 4.25±0.28, 18.77±0.77 and 0.87±0.09 percent respectively.
14.	Nine varieties of indigenous tree fodders have been identified and their proximate analysis has been done. Tannin and phenolic component as well as mineral composition in this fodder have also been estimated. All thesefodder have been found palatable to yaks.
15.	The preliminary findings showed that concentrate supplementation in feed have a significant effect on average daily weight gain than that of control group in yaks.
16.	Study on elemental concentration through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer has detected Calcium, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc, Cobalt, Manganese and Iron in yak hair, and Potassium, Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Copper andManganese in raw yak meat. However, Cobalt was undetectable in yak meat.
17.	Study conducted on growing yak calves fed with paddy straw based Complete Feed Block revealed improved economic traits with significantly higher blood biochemical profiles like glucose, protein and algomin in yaks maintain on CFB based diets compared to free grazing yaks during winter.
18.	Compensatory growth with higher plane of nutrition (100% DCP and 110% TDN as per NRC,1989 standard) could be achieve among the experimental animals losses their body weight due to low plane of nutrition.
19.	Compensatory growth phenomenon and beneficial effect of Complete Feed Block (CFB) on growth performance on yak calves were also observed during winter.
20.	Feeding trial on different plane of nutrition observe that average daily gain in body weight and feed conversion efficiency was the highest in animal fed with High Protein-High Energy followed by Low Protein-High Energy, High Protein-Low Energy and Low protein Low Energy.
21.	On the basis of Proximate analysis and in-vitro digestibility maize was found is the most potential fodder for Silage preparation in yak tracks of Arunachal Pradesh.
22.	Ante-partum administration of Vitamin E and Selenium in Yak was found to reduce the time of placental expulsion, Calving abnormalities, increase neonatal birth weight and reduce calf mortality compare to untreated yaks.
23.	A total of fifty one fibre degrading bacteria were isolated from rumen liquor of yak and their polysaccharide degrading enzyme activities were studied.