National Research Centre on Yak

Abstract Climate extremes and their occurrences are the main factors that determine climate risk, especially for the resource-poor farmers with limited adaptive capacities. This study examines the trends, variability, and return periods of climate extremes across the northeastern hill (NEH) region of India using long-term climatic data and standardized indices recommended by the Expert Team on Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). Results reveal a consistent increase in temperature-related extremes, including summer days, maximum temperature, and diurnal temperature range, particularly pronounced at stations in Meghalaya (Umiam) and Mizoram (Kolasib). Precipitation extremes, such as consecutive dry days, very heavy rainfall events, and high-intensity precipitation, also exhibited increasing trends at several locations, most notably in Kolasib and Manipur (Imphal). Shortened return periods for both prolonged dry spells and extreme precipitation events suggest an increasing frequency and intensity of compound climate extremes. Seasonal analysis indicates that the most pronounced changes occur during the monsoon and pre-monsoon periods, directly impacting cropping calendars and agricultural systems. These changes pose significant challenges to rainfed agriculture, water security, and disaster vulnerability in the region’s steep and fragile landscapes. The findings underscore the urgent need for climate-resilient agricultural planning, improved watershed and disaster risk management, and the development of region-specific adaptation strategies. Timely advisories, robust institutional support, and targeted policy interventions are essential to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience. This research provides critical baseline information for informed regional climate policy, sustainable development planning, and adaptive capacity building in one of India’s most ecologically and culturally significant regions.

Yak population of Sikkim currently stands at 5,219 heads and is reared by the nomadic pastoral community called Dokpa. This population has not been characterized till date and further, if not conserved, this valuable germplasm may become unavailable for utilization. In an attempt to address this issue, a survey was conducted in order to enable phenotypic characterization of the population and to judge its eligibility as a distinct breed. Sikkimese yaks generally have black body coat with broad convex head and upward pointing curved horns and are reared in a typical transhumant fashion. The daily milk yield in the animals averages around 1.44±0.09 kg with peak yield of 1.95±0.15 kg and lactation length of seven (6.77±0.39) months. Average age at first mating and first calving in females is 42.60±0.92 and 51.55±0.93 months, respectively whereas average age at first mating in bulls is 47.82±0.37 months. These animals can work for 5.5 h per day and are extremely tolerant to cold and drought conditions. Due to the pastoral nature of this occupation, winter feed crisis, climate change events and unscientific husbandry practices threaten the existence of this unique population. Hence, characterization and registration of yak population would be the first step for conservation and sustainability of this unique germplasm.

Adaptive resilience of pastoralists is defined by their social, economic, cultural and ecological contributions in the face of environmental uncertainties and other vulnerabilities. Pastoral resilience in drylands is characterized by their mobility, diversity, flexibility and reciprocity which, in turn, effectively regulate pastoral socio-economics. The impending threat of climate change threatens to weaken the centuries-old pastoral production systems and their livelihoods. However, the inherent capabilities of these systems can be exploited to develop pastoralism-centric policies against climate change. Further, these resilient systems can be strengthened through certain short-term (like developing customized insurance products, early warning systems and credit access) and long-term (like improvement in basic infrastructure and services, acknowledging their ecological contribution through monetary and other means, land tenure rights to pastoralists and promotion of cross-border pastoralism) adaptation strategies for building a climate-friendly future. Effective pastoralism is the way forward for sustaining dryland ecosystems in changing climates.

Abstract Native Sikkimese yak in Sikkim state of India is a pastoral treasure being raised through centuries-old transhumance practices and has evolved in response to natural and man-made selection. Currently, the population of Sikkimese yak is at risk with about five thousand total headcounts. Characterization is essential for taking appropriate decisions for conservation of any endangered population. In an attempt to characterize the Sikkimese yaks, this study recorded phenotypic morphometric traits information viz. body length (LG), Height at withers (HT), Heart Girth (HG), Paunch Girth (PG), Horn Length (HL), Horn Circumference (HC), Distance between Horns (DbH), Ear Length (EL), Face Length (FL), Face Width (FW) and Tail Length with Switch (TL) on 2154 yaks of both sexes. Multivariate approach used to analyze the recorded data revealed high positive correlations between HG and PG in both the sexes and three principal components (PCs) were found to explain more than 70 percent of the population variance cumulatively. Subsequently, discriminant analysis indicated an overall genetic uniformity within Sikkimese yak population. Phenotypic characterization of Sikkimese yaks can further pave the way for preparing future conservation strategy.

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Yak is an iconic symbol of Tibet and high altitudes of Northeast India. It is highly cherished for milk, meat, and skin. However, yaks suffer drastic change in milk production, weight loss, etc, when infested by parasites. Among them, infestation by leeches is a serious problem in the Himalayan belt of Northeast India. The parasite feeds on blood externally or from body orifices, like nasopharynx, oral, rectum, etc. But there has been limited data about the leech species infesting the yak in that region because of the difficulties in morphological identification due to plasticity of the body, changes in shape, and surface structure and thus, warrants for the molecular characterization of leech. In anticipation, this study would be influential in proper identification of leech species infesting yak track and also helpful in inventorying of leech species in Northeast India. Here, we investigated, through combined approach of molecular markers and morphological parameters for the identification of leech species infesting yak. The DNA sequences of COI barcode fragment, 18S and 28S rDNA, were analyzed for species identification. The generated sequences were subjected to similarity match in global database and analyzed further through Neighbour-Joining, K2P distance based as well as ML approach. Among the three markers, only COI was successful in delineating species whereas the 18S and 28S failed to delineate the species. Our study confirmed the presence of the species from genus Hirudinaria, Haemadipsa, Whitmania, and one species Myxobdella annandalae, which has not been previously reported from this region.

An experiment was carried out to study the electrophoretic profile of sperm membrane proteins in Assam Hill goat (AHG) bucks and their correlation with fresh semen characteristics. Ejaculates (64) consisting of 8 each from 8 bucks were collected by artificial vagina method. Each ejaculate was split into 2 equal parts. First part was used for fresh semen evaluation and the other part for protein study. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) indicated 20 different protein bands with molecular weight ranging from 10 kDa to 75 kDa. Among the 20 proteins, only 6 proteins bands were consistently present in all 8 bucks (100%). Protein bands with molecular weight 10, 14, 22, 28, 55, 57 and 60 kDa showed significant positive correlation with certain parameters of the fresh semen, while 47 kDa protein band presented negative correlation with fresh semen characteristics in AHG bucks. In conclusion, the proteins showing significant positive correlation with fresh semen characteristics might serve to screen semen of AHG bucks for breeding programmes.

We explored the involvement of genomic copy number variants (CNVs) in susceptibility to recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), or heaves-an asthmalike inflammatory disease in horses. Analysis of 16 RAO-susceptible (cases) and six RAO-resistant (control) horses on a custom-made whole-genome 400K equine tiling array identified 245 CNV regions (CNVRs), 197 previously known and 48 new, distributed on all horse autosomes and the X chromosome. Among the new CNVRs, 30 were exclusively found in RAO cases and were further analyzed by quantitative PCR, including additional cases and controls. Suggestive association (P=0.03; corrected P=0.06) was found between RAO and a loss on chromosome 5 involving NME7, a gene necessary for ciliary functions in lungs and involved in primary ciliary dyskinesia in humans. The CNVR could be a potential marker for RAO susceptibility but needs further study in additional RAO cohorts. Other CNVRs were not associated with RAO, although several involved genes of interest, such as SPI2/SERPINA1 from the serpin gene family, which are associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma in humans. The SPI2/SERPINA1 CNVR showed striking variation among horses, but it was not significantly different between RAO cases and controls. The findings provide baseline information on the relationship between CNVs and RAO susceptibility. Discovery of new CNVs and the use of a larger population of RAO-affected and control horses are needed to shed more light on their significance in modulating this complex and heterogeneous disease.

Metritis is the inflammation of the uterus causing severe economic loss to the dairy farmers due to failure of conception at the appropriate time. Variety of microorganisms are responsible for causing metritis, among which Arcanobacterium pyogenes, coliforms and the Gram – negative anaerobes, Fusobacterium and Bacteroides species are frequently involved. Infections generally gain entry during calving and frequently associated with difficult birth (dystocia) and Retention of Fetal Membranes (RFM). Under normal condition the microorganisms are eliminated from the uterus during uterine involution by the normal Uterine Defense Mechanism (UDM). However, when the UDM is compromised due to various factors the clinical symptoms of metritis sets in and sometimes leading to the death of the animal. There is various therapeutics available to counteract metritis around the world with their own merits and demerits. This review presents an overall account of the postpartum metritis in dairy cows and its therapeutic measures.