Dear USYAKS member, Physical and functional abnormalities are present in all breeds. The full disclosure of genetic abnormalities is useful information to the membership, as it allows breeders to minimize the impact of any problems or eliminate the defect from the breed. In general, congenital defects in livestock are not indicators of poor herd stewardship.… Continue reading Tracking Abnormal Calves
Author: Alex Krause
Visit to the National Research Center on Yak, in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
By: Peter Hackett and Ruth Higdon On March 7th 2016 we flew from Delhi to Guwahati, in Assam State, where we hired a car and driver and in two days of treacherous driving reached the small town of Dirang. The Brahmaputra River separates Assam State from the state of Arunachal Pradesh, which is a special… Continue reading Visit to the National Research Center on Yak, in Dirang, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Answers About Yak Genetics
BY: Peter Hackett, MD Q) What is genetic testing? Genetic tests analyze segments of an animal’s DNA, usually genes. DNA comes in two types, nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondrial DNA consists of only a few genes, and only governs how cells convert nutrients into energy. When people talk about DNA they are almost always… Continue reading Answers About Yak Genetics
Yak facts: Did You Know?
By Dr. Peter Hackett -Yaks have 30 chromosomes, 20,000 genes, and over 3 billion base pairs in their DNA-Yaks descended from a common ancestor of cattle, bison, banteng and gaur-Yaks genetically diverged from cattle 4.9 million years ago-Yaks were domesticated on the Tibetan Plateau about 7500 years ago-This permitted human expansion in that area-Domestication may… Continue reading Yak facts: Did You Know?
USYAKS Helps With Genetics Discovery
Pictured on the dais are the researchers involved in this work: Drs. Edward S. Rice, Jessica Petersen, Theodore Kalbfleisch, Tim Hardy and Peter Hackett. Not pictured are Drs. Timothy Smith, Michael Heaton and Sergey Koren. Scientists Construct New Yak Reference Genome San Diego, January 16, 2019 Scientists, led by Dr. Timothy Smith of the USDA,… Continue reading USYAKS Helps With Genetics Discovery
The Brokpa Yaks: A Dying Breed?
Climate change is affecting yaks and their Brokpa herders in the northeastern Indian Himalayas.By Bikash Kumar Bhattacharya Yaks’ extensive presence in the snow-clad alpine and subalpine Himalayas makes the landscape look like a crumpled white sheet punctuated with shaggy black dots. And, in the cradle of these mountains, depending entirely on yak produce — milk,… Continue reading The Brokpa Yaks: A Dying Breed?
Reproduction in female yaks (Bos grunniens) and opportunities for improvement
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Is the yak (Poephagus grunniens L.) really a seasonal breeder?
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Trekking: Let Yaks Carry the Gear
By Ruth Higdon Yaks have been used as beasts of burden for thousands of years in Asia. They have been bred over this time period to carry loads over high mountainous terrain without roads or bridges. The unique physiology of this amazing animal allows it to survive in this harsh environment. Their hooves and leg… Continue reading Trekking: Let Yaks Carry the Gear
Trekking in Alaska
By: Ruth Higdon Between 2002-2010, I helped organized and lead yak supported treks in the Talkeetna mountains in Alaska. On our first exploratory trek I was afraid all our yaks would run away, be attacked by grizzlies or just lie down and mutiny. They were rock stars. They carried the loads, crossed streams and stayed… Continue reading Trekking in Alaska