Yak "Faks"

Yaks are members of the bovine family (the same as cows). Yaks were domesticated in Tibet during the first millennium. They can climb as high as 20 000 feet.

North American yaks are divided into five types: black, trims (black with some white trim), royal (black and white with a white blaze face), golden and woolly.

Female yaks, called cows, weigh up to 410 kilograms. They are usually bred in the fall, and then give birth to a calf – a baby yak - in the spring. A mature male yak, called a bull, can weigh up to 545 kilograms. Yaks generally live for 20 to 25 years.

Yaks are used for breeding stock, cross breeding stock, pack and draught animals, wool, hide, milk and meat production.

Yaks can do well on as little as two to four kilograms of grass or hay per day.

The under-hair of yak is soft and can be combed out in the spring. Each yak can produce up to one kilogram of under-hair that sells for up to $16 per ounce when it is spun. This under-hair is comparable to cashmere. The coarser outer-hair can be woven into ropes, belts or bags.

Did you know…

Yaks eat about half of what an average beef cow does
Yaks can be trained to lead on a halter and taught to get on a trailer, carry bags as a pack animal, pull a cart and to be groomed.
One yak can carry up to 70 kilograms and can walk trails that are too rough for horses
There are only about 1000 breeding yaks in North America

Useful Links:

International Yak Association