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Feed Intake of Small Ruminants on Spring and Summer Pastures in the Mongolian Altai Mountains

Author

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  • Munkhnasan Tsevegemed

    (Section Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel and University of Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
    Current address: Livestock Policy Coordination and Implementation Department, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, 13381 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.)

  • Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu

    (Department of Pastoral Studies and Chemistry, Mongolian University of Life Sciences, Khoroo 11, 17024 Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia)

  • Greta Jordan

    (Section Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel, Steinstrasse 19, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany)

  • Eva Schlecht

    (Section Animal Husbandry in the Tropics and Subtropics, University of Kassel and University of Göttingen, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075 Göttingen, Germany)

Abstract

Climate variability, rising livestock numbers, decreasing herd mobility, and clustered grazing patterns have incited concern about the sustainable use of Mongolia’s natural pastures as the nutritional backbone of the country’s livestock sector. In 2013 and 2014 we studied daily itineraries, grazing behaviour, and feed and nutrient intake of small ruminants on spring and summer pastures in the southern Mongolian Altai, a remote livestock-dependent region. Offer of herbage dry matter (DM, kg ha −1 ) along the daily itinerary was higher in 2014 than in 2013 (837 versus 711; p > 0.05) but was comparable to previously reported values. Concentration of cell wall constituents in herbage increased from June to August in both years, whereas crude protein and phosphorus concentrations declined ( p < 0.05). Animals grazed most actively at noon and in the afternoon; their daily DM intake amounted to 1151 ± 300.8 g per head, with 60–72% of the ingested feed being digested. Feed intake enabled the animals to cover their nutritional requirements for maintenance, locomotion, and sizeable growth, rebutting the notion of unsustainable use of the regional spring and summer pastures. However, crude protein and phosphorus intake were deficient, pointing to a decline in vegetation quality that has to be counteracted with appropriate herd and pasture management strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Munkhnasan Tsevegemed & Togtokhbayar Norovsambuu & Greta Jordan & Eva Schlecht, 2019. "Feed Intake of Small Ruminants on Spring and Summer Pastures in the Mongolian Altai Mountains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:20:p:5759-:d:277540
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brianne A. Altmann & Greta Jordan & Eva Schlecht, 2018. "Participatory Mapping as an Approach to Identify Grazing Pressure in the Altay Mountains, Mongolia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Munkhnasan Tsvegemed & Alimu Shabier & Eva Schlecht & Greta Jordan & Martin Wiehle, 2018. "Evolution of Rural Livelihood Strategies in a Remote Sino-Mongolian Border Area: A Cross-Country Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-24, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zefu Gao & Qinyu Zhu & Haicheng Tao & Yiwen Jiao, 2023. "Grassland Health in Xilin Gol League from the Perspective of Machine Learning—Analysis of Grazing Intensity on Grassland Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-31, February.

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