Yak
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? Yak |
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| Bos gruniens Linnaeus, 1766 |
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| B. g. grunniens B. g. mutus |
The yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired humped domestic bovine found in Tibet and throughout the Himalayan region of south central Asia. In Tibetan, the word yak refers only to the male of the species; a female is a dri or nak. In English, however, yak is usually used for both sexes.
Wild yaks (Bos mutus) stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height. Both types have long shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold. Wild yaks can be either brown or black. Domesticated ones can also be white. Both males and females have horns.
Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk, fiber, and meat; they are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions. Yak milk is often processed to a cheese called Chhurpi in Tibetan and Nepali languages. Often the pack animals are actually crossbreeds of the yak and Bos taurus (common domestic cattle). These are known in Tibetan as dzo or dzopkyo.
Yak fiber is soft and smooth, in several colors, including shades of gray, brown, black and white. The length of yak fiber is about 1.2 inches. It is combed or shed from the yak and then dehaired. The result is a splendid downy fiber that can be spun into yarn for knitting.
Unlike cattle, yaks grunt rather than moo. Many wild yaks are killed for food by the Tibetans; they are now an endangered species. Yaks can weigh over 1200 pounds and have a lifespan of 20-25 years.
 Yaks are used to plow fields in much of Asia.
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 In Tibet, yaks are decorated and honored by the families they are part of.
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