Pioneer Yak Breeder

We bought our first yak bulls for Springridge Ranch from the 

late Bob Beal back in 1995. This article about his yak cross-breeding venture appeared in the Western Producer March 17, 1994.

 

Contrary to some recent media reports, yak have been bred in Alberta and throughout Canada for many years. My father first heard about yak cross-breeding at the University of Saskatchewan from magazine articles back in the 1960's or 1970's. According to The Green Bay Yakkers website, yaks were first imported to Canada in the early 1900's and experiments were done with cross-breeding of yaks and buffalo (called yakalo) at Wainwright, Alberta. So yak are as much a part of the ranching landscape in Alberta as the common European cattle breeds, just not as plentiful.  R.