Research

●　  Sustainable Development and Management of Animal Husbandry on Alpine Grasslands

Since the productive capabilities of sheep and yaks differs by species and age group, there is an optimal structure of species age groups and gender ratio that maximizes the yield of the grassland - livestock ecosystem. This practice will decrease the grazing pressure of natural grassland and prevent grassland from degradation effectively. On a theoretic study, on a per capita basis, 30 % should be yaks, and 70 % should be sheep and goats. Female sheep with reproduction capability in one herd should reach 48 to 50 %. About 30% of the sheep should be slaughtered by the end of the each summer so that the herd undergoes a three to four years cycle. Now, some female sheep will reach five or six years of age because of cultural norms, i.e., Tibetans are reluctant to slaughter animals. Experiments indicated that this practice was a successful way on Tibetan income increase and grassland protection in the Northern Qinghai and headwater of three rivers.

The failure of the utilization and management of grassland system can lead to grassland degradation. Rational management of alpine grassland and livestock can lighten grazing intensity and prevent grassland from degrading succession. 45% of utilization rate of herbage in each season was suitable for grassland and livestock production. Seasonal animal husbandry should be carried out according to the spatio-temporal characteristics of grass growth. The methods include making full use of pasture in warm season, converting the grass into livestock product quickly, protecting and enlarging the area of cold season pasture, and determining the livestock number based on the herbage yield. the development of seasonal animal production via improving species; building plastic greenhouse shelters to protect animals in winter thereby to reduce their energy consumption for maintenance; providing supplementary food in winter to increase the productivity of female and young animals; and applying artificial stimulants, regulators, and feed supplements in the growing season to accelerate the growth of animals in one year. Rational management of alpine grassland and livestock will make animal husbandry develop healthy in the headwater of three rivers. To acquire the goal of sustainable development and the optimal management of alpine grassland, all of these measures discussed above are necessary in future.