Laytonville Yaks, page 2

Why in the world areTibetan yaks be a good livestock choice for Laytonville?

The immediate answer lies in how they compare with beef cattle. The yaks have very small cloven hooves, like to keep their feet as dry as possible, and produce solid manure more like horses than cattle. This adds up to much less environmental degradation.

Yaks do not harm riparian areas near creeks. Even small areas like corrals remain remarkably clean (Two Angus heifers recently took over the corral the Laytonville yaks had used, and the contrast is startling -- Susan Bradley remarked that the 2 cattle did much more damage in 2 weeks than 8 yaks had done in 3 months).

Yaks do fine with normal cattle fencing; they are homebodies, unlike buffalo.

They thrive on any kind of grass or forage, even eating star thistle, and convert feed at a ratio that is said to be 70% more efficient than cattle. Their meat is very lean, and tastes something like buffalo.

Yak calves are born weighing only about 30 pounds and birthing is very easy for the cows (we saw one of this year's births, 20 minutes from first contractions to the calf up and nursing). Yak bulls can also be crossed with beef cows for offspring that are more feed-efficient, easier on the environment, and lower in fat.

Looking at it from a longer perspective, yaks have additional advantages. Their double coat provides a soft wool that sheds in the spring and can be combed out to spin into yarn or make into felt. The long outer hair is very strong and can be braided or woven.

They can be milked, used as pack animals, and trained to pull carts or ploughs or logs.

There are only about 2,000 yaks in the entire U.S. at this time.

YAK FACTS

What are they used for? Uses include breeding stock, cross-breeding stock, pack and draught animals, wool, hide, milk, butter, and meat production.

Are they hard to fence? Yaks are very easy to fence, requiring no special consideration. They are content in a small area and mix well with other livestock.

What and how much do they eat? They are very efficient food-converting animals and eat about half of what an average beef animal does. They are browsers and grazers and do well on a variety of pastures with no supplemental feed required. A mineral block and that is it. A mature yak can do well on as little as 6-10 pounds of grass hay per day. They alternate their day between browsing and lying quietly chewing their cud.

What is their personality like? Yaks are intelligent animals each with its own distinct personality. They learn to come when called and have a highly developed sense of sight and hearing. They make good watch dogs curiously investigating any activity in their vicinity. They can be halter broken upon weaning and learn and retain behaviors such as trailering, packing, pulling, and being groomed.

Are their horns dangerous? By holding their horns when training them, they learn not to throw them around. Their horns then become handy handles onto which to tie things, and hold on to when grooming them. They groom themselves, scratch, clean their hooves, and even open grain cans with them.

What is their meat like? With a dressing percentage of 45-55%, Yak meat is deep-red in color with the fat located on the outside of the carcass where it can be easily trimmed. This makes for low marbling which creates the meat's unique tenderness. The taste of Yak is best described as beef-like, but more delicate in flavor. It is high in protein, with one sixth the fat of beef. At present pure yak meat sells at a price equivalent to bison.

What is their milk like? Yak milk is NOT pink. It is a rich creamy color with a high fat content of 5-7 percent. Being so high in fat, it is usually processed into butter, cheese, or yogurt. An average cow will produce 110 kg. Milk in a lactation period of an average of 149 days.

What is their wool like? The soft under-hair of the Yak can be combed out in the spring. This very fine hair with a short staple is cashmere-like and can be blended with silk for easier spinning. Each yak can produce two to three pounds of under-hair which can sell for up to $16 per ounce when spun. The coarser outer-hair can be woven into ropes, belts, or bags.