Anyone else have Yaks?

[deb1]

Quote:
I ask because I know NOTHING about Yaks. What uses besides meat and fiber do they have?

 

[delyaks]

Hi Deb1,
Yaks produce the healthiest and most delicately flavored meat on the planet, wool that compares to cashmere, long hair for ropes and fly-tieing and rugs and human wigs and many other uses, skulls for artistry and decoration, horns, bones, tails; besides being able to carry heavy packs, and being able to ride; and being very friendly and personable pasture pets!!!! How is that for a list!
I don't know a more productive animal. Bob, DELYAKS, www.yakmeat.us . Check them out!

 

[MagsC]

Now I have something else to add to my "wanted" list for whenever I get a farm.

Excuse me if someone has already answered this, but I didnt see it, is there a good website with information to find out more?

 

[YakLady]

Bob, I've been on here since this past Summer. I'm not sure if I already told you or not, but I grew up on a cattle ranch in Oklahoma. My grandfather, who raised me, also owned the local feed store. Every Easter, he would bring home whatever chicks and bunnies didn't get sold. We would cull out the roo's, keep the hens for layers, and raise the bunnies for meat.

Grandpa cross-bred Chianina and Angus cattle. For some reason I do not understand to this day, he deemed it necessary to build the chicken coop right in the middle of the pasture. It was my job to crawl through the barbed wire fence every day with an egg basket, dodge Crazy Cow, and tend to the chickens. Then I would have to run back through the pasture, dodging Crazy Cow again, and make it back with all eggs intact. LOL! Crazy Cow lived in that pasture for ten years. I hated that cow, and I hated the chickens.

As soon as I could, I grew up and moved to the city. This past Summer presented the first opportunity to get back to my roots. I signed up on this site to refresh my memory on the art of chicken raising. It has been a wealth of knowledge for me, and I've made some wonderful friends along the way. Some of us here in Michigan get together on occasion, and visit one another. I think you'll enjoy this forum.

Mags, if you are asking about a website regarding yaks, there are many. Bob's webpage is very informative, mine provides a little bit of information, but mine is more about our family farm in general. You can check out IYAK.org, which is the International Yak Association. Bob is out IYAK Vice President. The site is going through some re-modeling, and there's a great deal of new information being offered. You will also find a member list on there, with names and locations of yak owners. All of us who have yaks are pretty passionate about them. They are amazing creatures, and a joy to raise. Any of us would be more than happy to answer whatever questions you may have.

 

[delyaks]

Hi Cayce,
Good story! My background was somewhat similar. Most of my family comes from Wisconsin dairy farms. Lots of Holsteins and chickens!
I couldn't get away from that scene fast enough either.

I've run many of my own businesses during the course of my life, mostly in manufacturing. Semi-retired and wanted to get back into raising animals, but had no interest in "the usual" beef breeds. I wanted something "idiot-proof". I didn't want to stay up late nights calving, and didn't want to get a veterinarian's degree to survive man's domestication problems in beef breeds.

The Yak guys showed up at the National Western Stock Show in Denver about 15 years ago. I saw the animals, and thought they were awesome. I heard the stories of how easy they are to raise, and disease resistant. My ranch is right up against the Uncompahgre National Forest, with all kinds of lions, bears, and coyotes. I found out the Yaks would chase off all the wild animals, or kill them if they were too stupid to run away. That was a big plus for me. Then I had a free Yak burger at the stock show, and I was sold!!!!!!

It was Yaks for me from then on! Still love them today!
Glad to be a part of a real pioneering endeavor with Yaks in this country. We need more people to realize that Yaks are the way to go for the best meat possible. And then you get all the other products to go with it; especially the wool!
The more you work with them, the more you just fall in love with them! They have real personalities, and are smart, too.
Bob, DELYAKS, www.yakmeat.us

 

[bagendhens]

im actually now debating yak for my future farming endevours.
i want multi purpose animals, rabbits for meat and hides, goats for milk and meat, chickens for meat and eggs...ect
i had no idea yak were so "multi use"! (and adorable!)

 

[delyaks]

Hi Lynne,
Please check out our websites for yaks at www.yakmeat.us and www.yakbreeder.com .
When you are ready come see our Yaks in Colorado. Would love to show you around. Bob

 

[MagsC]

Thanks for the info and the websites to search.

 

[Illia]

Well well, didn't think this thread would suddenly spurt with life!

Thanks for the advice - I'm hoping he won't get too "bullish," we just started letting him loose from the barn today (before that, he was locked in there all day except for daily lead-line training since we got him) and he was able to act like a real yak calf (SOOO cute, he ran and ran and ran and ran, then played with the goats, then ran around some more until his tongue was hanging out!

) So, with him being more of an actual pastured calf, we're going to start weaning him off the bottle and to the grass and hay and whatnot. I never thought of the early weaning from the bottle though - Our yak supplier's bull didn't seem to bad, as even when we caught the calf, none of the animals seemed to care.

I would actually love more advice! We're very new to Yaks and the raising of them, so it would help.

We're looking to have a very tame, decently friendly herd but not a problem bull. . . Also, we'll be crossing Yaks to Watusi to see how that goes. Our supplier's accidental Watusi cross heifer was gorgeous!!

I'll post new photos tomorrow. He's grown quite a bit, looks a lot more like a yak now, and his horns are very visible! I can't wait until his skirt comes in, though.

Oh, and does anyone here raise or know anyone who raises Yaks in VERY wet, rainy places? Our boy came home with a bad case of rainrot, and after some antibiotics and long duration in a dry barn, he's getting better, but - I just really hope he won't have a problem like that again. It rains a lot, after all. . .

 

[Illia]

Update! Finally got photos of him running around - Had to run first, then he follows behind. Soo cute. Anyway, I didn't get him in full gallop but you can see that cute tail curl back. Oh, and thank goodness - His rainrot is disappearing.

Behind him is one of our LaMancha goats. I think he's starting to get lonely, as they really don't care for him, and whenever I come in - He always comes right between my legs and hangs his head, begging for itches, rubs, and massages. Or food. Soon, boy, soon - You'll have some heifers.