Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef

A Little Piece Of Tibet

2012-02-23T12:00:00.002-08:00

This little treasure was given to us by a friend
who picked it up in his travels to Tibet.

Look at the detail in this handcarved yak!

Even if we never manage to travel to Tibet,

a little piece of Tibet has come to us.

Yak Burger Soup For The Slow Cooker

2012-02-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Take

1 lb of Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef

1/2 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp minced garlic

and cook it in a fry pan:

While the meat is cooking,

grate 1 large carrot, coarse or fine, whatever you prefer,

and put it in the slow cooker:

Then take some celery, 1 or 2 stalks worth, or in my case,

use up some ends and leaves from the celery:

Chop the celery and add it to the slow cooker:

Cook the meat until no pink remains:

Add the meat in the slow cooker along with 2 Tbsp barley or rice:

Then take 1 cup beef consomme and 3 cups water

(*note the original recipe called for 1 cup water,

which is what the photo shows,

but I found that 3 cups water is a better consistency):

Add it to the slow cooker along with

1 small (10 oz) can of condensed tomato soup:

Add salt and pepper to taste,

a pinch of thyme, 1 bay leaf and stir:

Cook on low for 8 hours and serve with grated cheese on top.

Enjoy!

*Note, this recipe is very flexible and you can add more or less of

any of the ingredients listed here depending on your taste, or add your own!

It can also be doubled and the leftovers can be frozen in portions for

those days when you don't have time to make a meal.

So Ugly, He's Cute?

2012-02-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Let's face it. Not every critter is blessed with good looks.

Case in point.

But really, it's what's underneath that counts.
At least that's what my Mother always taught me.

Duke's First Cattle-Yak Drive

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

It was time to wean the calves from the cows and of course,
because we calve later than most ranchers, we also wean later.

We thought we'd see how Duke would handle bringing the herd home.
Unfortunately, he didn't start off very well.
He was so excited, he ended up turning the herd back
in the direction they just came from.

The cows were a bit wound up also, so all in all,
it made for a volatile situation.

This video was taken after his mistake and you can see how
one yak-cross cow tried to put him in his place.
Thankfully, Duke didn't take it personally and he went right back to herding.

After that little mishap, Duke ended up sitting in the truck.

Where he watched the action taking place outside.

Until the end, when we thought we try him out for the final push up the hill.

All things considered, he did quite well for only being seven months old
and it was a learning experience for all of us.

Duke The Wonder Dog

2012-01-12T12:30:00.000-08:00

Have you wondered what has Duke been up to in the past few months since my last post about him?
To start with, he's been eating and growing and playing and learning.

He loves to ride in the truck and his spot is on the floor, passenger side.

But he will try and get away with trying out the driver's side,

or wiggling his way up on to the passenger's lap so he can look out, or curl up and fall asleep.

He's learned to raid our compost and discovered a treat,
corn on the cob, minus the corn.

(Is this what's known as a corndog?)

He has a few favourite toys, like his Greenie.

But he'll pretty much chew on anything he can get away with (see corndog photo above).

Needless to say, our front doormat has taken a beating.

He loves to retrieve a ball, bone or stick and as he's young and full of energy,
he will play this game endlessly, if he can keep your attention.

He's also learned to play catch with himself.
On a windy day, he will find something light,
pick it up in his mouth and throw it into the air and run and catch it.

So far, he knows the words sit, lie down, shake a paw, jump up, kennel, owl, deer.

He made that all important trip to the vet.
Have you ever seen anything more pathetic looking than this?

The "cone of shame" didn't last long as it terrified him more than it helped him.

Thankfully, the surgery has helped his mind focus better.

He will howl with some encouragement.

He has a unique way of relaxing.

Ah, this is the life!

He went on his first Christmas tree hunt out to the mountains.

And he's getting familiar with the bovines.

Watch this clip as he tests the limits with one of our

Red Angus/Simmental-cross cows and a yak-cross heifer.

Is he a wonder dog? Yep. He's wonderful to us.

Watch for my next post when we'll see what happens

when he had his first experience moving the cattle-yak herd.

Dzo Photo In The Financial Post

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

You may remember my post from last summer when Journalist Twyla Campbell and Photographer Michele King paid a visit to Springridge Ranch, as well as the subsequent article that appeared first in the Edmonton Journal and then other newspapers across the country. It recently came to our attention that on November 28, 2011, a farm related article appeared in the Financial Post and the accompanying photo was one that Michele had taken at Springridge Ranch last summer! To see the photo and article, click here.

2012 Springridge Ranch Calendar

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

If you would like a pdf version of our 2012 one page calendar, please send us an email and we will gladly send you one! Email: eat_more_yak@yahoo.ca

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef would like to take this opportunity to thank our customers for supporting us this past year.
Thanks to you, we've had our most successful year yet!

We would also like to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas!

Pioneer Christmas Market - December 23, 2011

2011-12-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be set up at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village for the Pioneer Christmas Market on Friday, December 23, 2011 from 5 to 8pm.

Come and see us for your last minute holiday meat ideas!

The Snow Eater

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Our little corner of the world has always been known for its wind. And not just any wind. Strong wind. It's why we now have so many windmills in the area. Winds are generally stronger in the spring and fall but lately, it's been at the extreme end of the spectrum. When it gets up past the 100 km/h range, it starts to get scary. In fact, when it gets past 120 km/h, it's the same as a category one hurricane in terms of wind strength. This is when roofs start to peel back. Buildings destroyed. Fires get out of control (why is anyone burning when the wind is blowing that hard anyway?). Bales roll down the field. Snowballs form on the ground in just the right temperature. Corral walls fall down. Windows blow out. Trees broken and uprooted. Yes, all of that has happened in our neck of the woods. Folks either learn to live with the wind, or they can't stand it and have to leave.

However, there is a plus side to it all. The winds in winter are sometimes the results of a weather pattern called chinooks. Chinooks can bring on some of the strongest winds, but along with that come sudden warmer temperatures and some spectacular sunrises...

...and sunsets.

One of the most distinct features of a chinook is the arch that forms in the western sky.

They can have a smooth edge...

This is a photo of an ususual summer chinook arch!

...or a rough edge.

The Aboriginals call chinooks "The Snow Eater". Why? As stated in Wikipedia,
"A strong Chinook can make snow one foot deep almost vanish in one day".

The map on this page shows where the most chinooks occur, and we fall right into the red category.

So what do the critters do when the winds howl? The wild animals find shelter in trees or bushy areas. Or, like these prairie chickens, they hunker down and wait it out:

If the domestic animals don't have some bush to take shelter in, and if there's no barn or wood fence to stand behind, then they turn their backside to the wind. Here are our horses, taking shelter behind a board fence:

And here are the cows coming for their feed:

I apologize for the shaky camera, but when it's blowing that hard,

it's difficult to keep anything steady!

December 2-3, 2011

2011-11-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be set up in the old Fields Store, Ranchland Mall in Pincher Creek, Alberta Friday, December 2 (3-8pm) and Saturday, December 3 (10am to 5pm). Stop by, taste some samples of our smokies, jerky stix and garlic sausage and stock up for the holidays!

We'll Be At The Ranchland Mall November 18-19, 2011

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be set up at the Ranchland Mall in Pincher Creek, Alberta November 18 (3-8pm) and November 19 (10am-5pm).
This is your chance to come by and stock up on something different for your Christmas entertaining this year - yak-cross beef!

Try our newest "Yak Snak"...garlic sausage!

A Yak Mascot From Yahk, B.C.

2011-11-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine spotted this little guy at a garage sale and bought it for us. Since then, he's become our mascot at Farmer's Market.

We added the Springridge Ranch sign and if you peel it away, underneath it says "Yahk, BC". Which got me wondering, how did Yahk, BC get it's name? And why did they add the "h"? So far, I've only been able to find a brief history of Yahk on the bottom half of this webpage, but it didn't explain the naming of this town. If anyone out there knows, please drop me a note!

Time For Another Cattle-Yak Drive

2011-11-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

"Cattle Drive" has always been an interesting term to me. After all, cattle don't drive, you gather them up and move them down the road or across pastures to their new feeding grounds.

First, there's the gather.

Then the herd has a tendency to rush out the gate and head

down the road in a hurry...

...until they settle down to a steady pace.

Depending where you travel, there can be a few obstacles along the way. The older cows have been down this road at least yearly and they barely blink an eye at their surroundings. Here's a bridge that a few of them have crossed several times in their life. It makes a different noise under their hooves than being on gravel, so the calves and even new horses can balk at the strange sound it makes. In those cases, it's wise to get off your horse and lead it across the first time or two!

Vehicles are a common sight.

And there are a few railway crossings.

This day, some of the younger cows were leading the pack and it took a little convincing to get them to cross the tracks. However, with some persistence, one finally ventured out and took those first steps...

...and the others soon followed.

As they all settled into their new digs, there was a chance to get a good look at some of the calves and see how they've grown. You may remember little raccoon eyes. Well, he isn't so little anymore!

It's alway satisfying to head home after a great morning ride

and a job well done.

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Pulled Beef

2011-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Combine the following ingredients together in your slow cooker:

1 Small Onion, Diced

1/2 cup Chopped Celery

1/2 cup Water

1/2 cup Ketchup or Chili Sauce

1/4 cup Barbecue Sauce

2 Tbsp Vinegar

2 Tbsp Brown Sugar

1/2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce

1 tsp Minced Garlic

1/2 tsp Chili Powder

1/2 tsp Dry Mustard

1/2 tsp Pepper

Add 1 frozen Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef Sirloin Tip Roast.

Coat it in the sauce.

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Remove roast on to a cutting board and
pull the meat from the roast with a fork.

Add the pulled meat back to the sauce.

Stir.

Enjoy your Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Pulled Beef
on a bun or in a sandwich with cheese!

The New Yaks On The Block

2011-10-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

I thought I share a few more photos from the place where we bought the new yaks for our herd. In my previous post about our visit, you'll see a photo of the big royal yak bull. Here's another shot of him in the background running with the black yak bull. The black bull is also six years old and quite large, although Mr. Royal has him beat size-wise.

The following photo isn't the greatest, but it gives some perspective so you can see how big this bull is!

During our visit to the yak pen, yours truly was inches away from getting a yak horn in the kidney. One of the yak cows didn't like it when I made a move to get to a safer viewing spot and decided to give me the scare of my life. I knew there was a ruckus going on behind me but it was my husband who reported how close she actually came to me! I'm happy to report that I scaled the fence in record time. Yessiree, yaks can put on the afterburner when they decide to, which sure helps out during calving time with coyote control.

In the end, we bought four young bulls (none of which are shown above) and two heifers. Why so many bulls? Well, as they are young and take longer to mature, we didn't want to only buy only one and run the risk of not having a sound bull when breeding time rolls around.

Here are some photos of the new arrivals:

Yak Balls

2011-10-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Springridge Ranch is proud that Waymarker Hospitality featured our meat in one of three samples at the 2011 Calgary Rocky Mountain Wine Festival October 14-15, 2011. The chef prepared Yak Balls, which were yak-crossed meat balls in a rich mushroom sauce. To see the full menu of samples and participating restaurants, click here. The participants are listed in alphabetical order so look for Waymarker Hospitality on the last page. Vimy's Lounge and Grill, a restaurant in one of Waymarker's properties, also features Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef Dip on their menu!

Panting Yaks

2011-10-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

Wild yaks roam from approximately 10,000 to 18,000 feet on the Tibetan plateau and can survive temperatures that reach down to -40 deg C. As yaks were domesticated, they were brought to lower elevations. They are built for the cold, but in many cases have to adapt to a warmer environment.

On hot days, yaks try to cool themselves by panting.

In September, on one of the last really warm days we had, we went to look at a yak herd with the intention of buying a few to bring home. Below is the big six-year-old royal yak bull they had. He was also panting in the heat.

He is one. big. boy.

Even the calves had their tongues hanging out.

Check back next week when I'll share some photos of the new arrivals to Springridge Ranch!

Yak "Tales" - Part Two

2011-10-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

This summer, while at Farmer's Market, we met artisan Joanne Block of Homespun Angoras Studio. Joanne raises rare Giant Angora Rabbits and she harvests and hand spins their fibre into a natural luxurious wool. She was keenly interested in learning about our business and if we had ever collected and/or sold our yak fibre. While we have saved the yak tail hair over the years, we have not collected the down fibre which the yaks shed in spring. We knew about the luxurious fibre that yaks produce, but we didn't have an outlet for it, nor did we have the time to harvest it properly. After all, the time to do this is in spring which is one of the busiest times on the ranch.

During the summer, we had the opportunity to gather the last down off of one little pure yak heifer. Joanne was so excited, she couldn't wait to start spinning it while at the same time demonstrating her talent for those of us who had never seen a wheel in action.

Besides spinning the down, Joanne is experimenting with turning some of our yak tail hair into a mecate, as mentioned in our last post.

Watch this space in the future for the results as we'll be sure to share them!

Interested in purchasing some of Joanne's products?
Check out her Etsy store!

In the market for a spinning wheel?
Joanne is a rep for Ashford Wheels and Looms.
Contact her for more information.

Yak "Tales" - Part One

2011-09-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yaks and horses have similar looking tails.

Thank you Licorice for being my model!

There's the shorter, bushy tail of the pure yaks...

And the longer, not-quite-as-bushy tail of the yak-crosses...

Yak tails come in different colors...

Tail hair can be made into a variety of things, however, we don't have the tools or training to do that. Below are mecates, or rope reins traditionally made from the mane and tail hair of horses.

In recent years, we've found yak hair mecates in some western stores, but they aren't all that common. We've been keeping our eyes and ears open for a long time to find someone in Canada who would be able to transform the yak tail hair we've collected over the years into a mecate.

Or small shooflys for under the horse's chin...

Thank you Buddy for being my model!

Or large shooflys for under the horse's belly...

Well, we've found someone who hasn't done this sort of thing before, but they have plenty of experience with animal fibre and is willing to give it a whirl!

To find out more, watch this space next week for part two!

To be continued...

Dzo Whisperer

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

First there was the Horse Whisperer, then the Dog Whisperer.

Could a Dzo Whisperer be next?

The Old Gal

2011-09-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Number 5 is an old gal, in fact, she’s the oldest yak-cross cow in our herd.

Number 5 (right) with her calf in 2006

She was born in 1996 to a Black Angus mama who was bred to a yak bull. That was the first batch of yak-cross calves we had and she’s the only one left. The cowboy in our house likes Number 5, a lot. In fact he commented recently that he wished we had an entire herd like her. She’s protective once she drops her calf, enough to keep those ‘yotes away, but she has never been too nasty otherwise. Oh, she’ll let you know if you’re getting too close, but mostly she’s just a great even-headed, baby-producing, yak-cross cow.

Here she is, heavy in calf, early May 2011...

And here she is with her latest addition, born on May 19, 2011...

In July when we moved them to a new pasture...

And at the beginning of September when we moved the herd again.

You can see how much her calf has grown.

We hope to have this great old gal around for years to come!

On The Road Again

2011-09-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

No need to adjust your monitor.

The "objects in mirror are closer than they appear"...

Yes indeed, they are!

It was time to move the cow/calf herd to some new digs

and we couldn't have asked for a nicer day...

The grass in parts of the new pasture is pretty tall...

In fact, it's going to be a challenge to find all the calves for the first while...

Here, number 30 pair enjoy the new grass...

...while number 46 pair (Raccoon Eyes) gets settled in.

This calf has sure changed color if you compare this to our previous posting about him.

It was a productive and enjoyable day for all involved...

Evidence that we passed by was spread all over the road...

Our apologies for all who just washed their vehicles,

but this is one of the hazards of driving in the country!

Cattle-Yak Dog

2011-09-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

I've heard it said that a good cattle dog is equal to four cowboys on horseback. I don't know if that's exactly true, but I do know one thing, a good working cattle dog is worth their weight in gold.

We adopted Pepper, a border collie mix,
when she was approximately four months old.

No one knew her exact age. She was found wandering the streets in a town about an hour away from us and an elderly lady took her in. This lady was unable to care for her, so she phoned the SPCA to come and pick her up. Eventually Pepper made her way to the SPCA in our nearest town, where a friend of ours fostered her. She told us about "Zipper", (the name given to her by the SPCA), who was in her home at the time, and we went to have a look. We fell in love and adopted her in January 2000.

We trained her ourselves with the little knowledge we had and worked with her natural instinct. She caught on and became very handy, although definitely not perfect. She was brave when she was at the south end of northbound cows but when they would turn and face her, she would tuck her tail and run. We were always careful not to stand in close proximity to Pepper when there was a protective yak mama who was bent on getting rid of that black and white "coyote" in the pasture, as we would inadvertently become the next target.

After looking through all our photos of Pepper over the years, I realized that I don't have any of her actually working cattle. This is probably because 1) I wasn't there or 2) If I was there, I was helping and there was no time to take a photo! The closest thing I have are the following two photos, taken her first summer with us as she was getting "acquainted" with a yak-cross calf.

She knew the following words or phrases:
Pepper, come, sit, lie down, way to me, come by, get 'em, that'll do, gopher, owl, pigeon, coyote, kennel, barn, jump up, truck, tractor.

She had some fears:
men, guns, thunder, BBQ's, fires, cameras and even binoculars!

Some of the things she liked to do were:
chase a ball, run alongside one of us riding our bike, preventing the yak and cattle from eating a bale before the strings were cut, trying desperately and hopelessly to chase a jackrabbit or two.

She also liked to ride in the tractor...

Help with chores....

Run along with us while we were out riding...

In her leisure time, one of her favorite activities was swimming...

She loved the splash of the water when you would throw a rock in...

Chasing and digging after gophers...

Did I mention she loved swimming?

It was hard to get her out of the water some days...

Did I mention she loved to dig in gopher holes?

This was the aftermath...

Good thing she loved swimming so much.

It made clean up that much easier.

In July 2010, she still had enough energy to hike up to
Bovin (Blue) Lake with us.

And my favorite all time photo of her, taken that same month along the Drywood Creek...

Unfortunately, in November 2010 her health deteriorated to the point where we had to make the difficult decision to have her put down. She is buried in the field where she loved to run and chase gophers so much. RIP Pepper.

Now on to the next chapter, our new little border collie pup, Duke,
who was born on May 29, 2011!

Here he is at five weeks...

...and after we brought him home at eight weeks.

We have high hopes that this little fella will turn out to be a great working dog. He has already shown us that he overcomes his fears and learns quickly. Duke is getting used to the bigger four-legged critters on our place and has even attempted to help out when they need to be moved, although I'm never there with a camera to capture the moment (sound familiar?).

We've noticed he has a near obsession with chairs.

He loves to be underneath them the most...

...but sitting on top when we're not works for him too!

He already loves riding in the tractor...

One thing is for sure, he's growing up far too fast

and the puppy stage will soon be over!

He's managed to wiggle his way into our hearts and as with Pepper, the past and future memories we have of Duke will always be a part of our life.

Yak Stretches

2011-08-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice to be as flexible as these yak-cross heifers?

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef Will Soon Be Available in Edmonton!

2011-08-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

Springridge Ranch is excited to announce that our first shipment of yak-cross beef is scheduled to arrive at Real Deal Meats in Edmonton, Alberta next week!

Article About Horizon Meats In The Alberta Farmer

2011-08-16T12:10:00.000-07:00

Here's an article from the August 15 edition of the Alberta Farmer about our friends Stu and Todd over at Horizon Meats in Calgary, Alberta where you can find Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef!

CBC Radio Calgary Eyeopener Interview

2011-08-12T11:20:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Doug Dirks from CBC Radio Calgary for interviewing Springridge Ranch this morning on the Eyeopener! If you are interested in having a listen, please click here.

Where The Deer And The Shaggy Dzo Play

2011-08-09T14:45:00.000-07:00

As promised in the last post, click here to read Twyla Campbell's article in the Edmonton Journal on her recent visit to Springridge Ranch!

** Update **
If you'd like to read Michele King's blog entry regarding this article and to view a full color version of the Taste Alberta page from August 10, click here!

Special Visitors to Springridge Ranch

2011-08-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you've been following this blog, you'll know that Twyla Campbell has been an avid fan Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef since she first tried some and started blogging about it in March 2010. At the end of June, she accompanied some of Springridge Ranch's yak-cross beef tenderloin to Ottawa, Ontario where it was served to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine. Recently, Twyla came to visit Springridge Ranch to write a story for the Edmonton Journal, (publishing date, to be announced). You can just imagine how exciting it was for us to finally meet her in person!

Twyla brought her amazing photographer friend along, Michele King, and we spent the day getting to know the two of them a little bit while they went to work. Click here to read Michele's blog and her account of the day.

It was time to move the cow/calf pairs from one pasture to another so what better time to get a good look at some of the critters.

Getting the horses ready...

Gathering the cattle...

...and moving them down the road.

Michele will do just about whatever it takes to get the

right angle and perfect shot.

And the stars of the day, the yak-crosses!

Later, back at the ranch, Calfy posed beautifully for Michele...

...while Twyla had a close encounter of the yak kind!

Here's Twyla with her new hair extensions...a yak tail!

(On a side note, did you know that yak hair is used for making wigs and beards?)

We thoroughly enjoyed the day and look forward to reading all about it!
Watch this space for a link to the upcoming article in the Edmonton Journal.

Alberta Farmer Article

2011-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

The August 1 edition of the Alberta Farmer included a surprise for us. We knew the article was coming, but didn't expect it to be on the front page!

Click here to have a read.

If the above links appear to be broken, here is a scan of the article:

Yak Beef Dip at Vimy's Lounge and Grill in Waterton Lakes National Park

2011-07-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you happen to find yourself in Waterton Lakes National Park this summer and are looking for a great place to eat, why not try Vimy's Lounge and Grill at Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort?

Here's a snapshot of part of the menu:

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef is excited to be a part of this great eatery!

Radio Interview on Sunny 94 FM!

2011-07-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Here are the two clips that aired on Sunny 94 from Lacombe, Alberta recently. A huge thank you to Kim Kay from Sunny 94 for this opportunity!

A Good Old Rub In The Mud

2011-07-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

When there's mud around, what youngster can resist the opportunity to get a little dirty, just like these yak-cross heifers?

From Soggy Calves To Sunshine!

2011-07-14T17:30:00.000-07:00

We had a very wet spring, to say the least. If it had only rained, that would have been one thing. However, during one stretch, the rain was accompanied by a cold wind over nearly five days. That kind of weather is hard on any newborn critters even if they do have a hairy coat like the yak-crosses. We brought the mamas with their little ones into the barn and squeezed them into every available space we could find. It was a full house. Then to feed and water them all, well that was a chore!

Lucy the barn cat had trouble figuring out what was going on with all these creatures who were invading "her" space.

This is what some of the over-saturated well-trodden areas of earth looked like afterwards...

Thankfully, that passed. The cow-calf pairs went back out to pasture and things started to warm up, albeit slowly.

We held our branding with some help from family and neighbours, then hauled the cow-calf pairs out to pasture several miles away and now the little ones aren't so little anymore. In fact, they are growing like weeds. One of these days I will manage to get out there with my camera so I can share some photos.

Now that the weather has improved,

the next order of business is to get the haying done.

You know how the old saying goes.... you've got to

make hay while the sun shines!

Radio Interview With Sunny 94 FM From Lacombe, Alberta

2011-07-13T06:50:00.000-07:00

A big thank you to Sunny 94 FM for their radio interview with me this morning! I'm not sure when it will be aired, but if you live in the Red Deer/Lacombe, Alberta area, and listen to Sunny 94 FM on a regular basis or online, you may just hear it! M.

Pioneer Yak Breeder

2011-07-06T16:50:00.000-07:00

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.

Feeding William and Kate

2011-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in reading Twyla Campbell's firsthand account on her experience in the Rideau Hall kitchen in preparation for the Royal Reception, click here. Thanks Twyla for your enthusiastic support!

Royal Yaks

2011-07-04T15:00:00.000-07:00

All this talk of royalty has started the wheels turning about Royal Yaks which are, very simply, a special color pattern of yak (black and white or golden and white). I'm curious about their history and wonder how it is they got their name? I can't find an answer online anywhere.

You can see examples of what they look like here and here. Note the bluff charge on the video. One thing is common with these yaks or the ones we've handled over the years, those mamas are very protective!

Happy Independence Day to our American friends!

Royal Update From Ottawa

2011-07-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

Twyla Campbell gave us a call last night to let us know that she had a short visit with the Duchess of Cambridge who was curious and very interested to learn about Alberta yak!

Happy Canada Day!!

Royal Reception

2011-06-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

If you're interested in reading a few articles about the food preparations for the Royal Reception at Rideau Hall today, click here and here!

Royal Yak Meat

2011-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the amazing efforts of food blogger Twyla Campbell, Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef will be served to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, June 30, 2011 at 5:00 pm (EDT)! You can follow all the details as Twyla Tweets about her adventures there.

Twyla will also be interviewed live from Ottawa on CBC Radio Edmonton AM, June 30 at 8:15 am (MDT). To listen in, click here, then scroll down until you see "Listen Live" on the right, then click on "CBC Radio One 740AM/93.9FM".

New Yak Snaks Available At Farmer's Market!

2011-06-27T12:29:00.000-07:00

Farmer's Market season has returned and with that
we are excited to offer new "Yak Snaks"!

Ready-to-eat Yak-Cross Beef Jerky Stix $5.00/package

Yak-Cross Beef Smokies $7.00/package of 4

Yak-Cross Beef Seasoned Patties $8.00/package of 4

You can find us at the Pioneer Country Market located at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village in Pincher Creek, every Friday, 11:00am to 2:00pm until early fall. See you there!

Raccoon Eyes

2011-06-14T17:35:00.000-07:00

This quarter yak cow...

...was bred to a grey Galloway bull,

which produced this little color inversion of herself.

It's like looking at a photo negative!

A Few Of My Favourite Spring Things!

2011-05-26T12:05:00.000-07:00

1) Crocuses

2) Kittens

3) An evening walk through the pasture

A Tribute To The Yak Bull

2011-05-18T06:32:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we said goodbye to the Yak bull we've owned for the last six years. He was a nice bull, overall. He would pick fights with our Angus and Galloway bulls, and yes, he gave them some injuries, but then why have that impressive headpiece if you can't use it now and again? He didn't like to be in tight spaces but when he was, it was the only time he would get cranky with us. However, running him through the chute was required at times and he always managed to maneuver his head down the alley so he never got stuck. He knew what he had for a crown.

In any case, he is a majestic creature and we can't help but give him some respect, admire his good looks and thank him for the great babies over the years.

Here are some photos and video we took of his last morning out in our pasture. We trust he's enjoying his new home where he has 1,000 acres to roam!

Calving

2011-05-06T16:49:00.000-07:00

Now that spring is finally here in full force, we've been busier than the proverbial bee trying to make a dent in the mile long "to do" list. In the middle of it all, we are calving. Here are a few of the newest additions.

We had to bring the cow/calf pairs in to the barn for a

few days due to some nasty weather.

It's very difficult to find some of the calves when their
mamas hide them in the grass!

A successful catch.

A first time mama, wondering what is going on

with that foreign object attached to her baby!

Tagging the newborn while mama strains to see what is happening.

Adjusting the new "earring" while getting an earful from mama.

Happy Mother's Day!

Calving Officially Began Today at Springridge Ranch!

2011-04-25T17:34:00.000-07:00

Two babies on the ground so far. Photos to follow.

Yakky Easter!

2011-04-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

EveryYak's A Critic

2011-04-18T17:46:00.000-07:00

And the critic says....

....two horns down to another heavy snowfall on the weekend!

When is La Nina ever going to end?

Perhaps this heifer, like me, is dreaming of a vacation to Mongolia or Tibet. Surely the weather is better there?

"Calfy" the Orphan

2011-04-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, we end up with an orphan calf due to circumstances beyond our control, or in spite of our best efforts. “Calfy” became such an orphan after he was born in May 2009. His mama was a Black Galloway cow bred to a yak bull. We became his substitute mama and immediately fed him colostrum to give him the same chance as any other calf would have. Colostrum is the first milk a cow produces which is full of goodies to help a calf ward off infection. After that, we fed him milk replacer on a regular schedule and eventually weaned him off milk and onto grass and hay. Many of our friends and family’s kids who came to visit had the chance to bottle feed a calf for the first time!

As Calfy needed to be close to the protection of the barn, we let him have a fair bit of freedom. He was much tamer than a regular calf because we handled him on a daily basis and he followed us around while we did the rest of our chores. He enjoyed hanging out with the big kids when we weren’t there.

Can you spot him lying in the hay?

There he is!

Then Calfy grew....

And grew...

And grew!

He enjoyed hanging out with other kids his age on the lush green pasture last summer. That's Calfy on the left.

Then he came back home for the winter.

He’s getting to be a big kid now and a bit stand-off-ish,

but he’s still tamer than the rest...

...and quite curious.

Yak Sports

2011-04-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, while doing some research for a presentation on yak, I came across some interesting facts about how they are used in other parts of the world. We already knew that in places like Tibet, Mongolia and Nepal yak have been domesticated for thousands of years and as work animals, they are used for ploughing and packing. If you ever watch TV specials of climbers going up to the Mount Everest base camp, most of the time they use yaks to pack supplies.

However, the interesting part we didn’t know is that they are also used for yak skiing in some parts of the world, as well as in yak races, yak polo and yak lassoing at the Mongolian Yak Festival! The more I learn, the more I think it would be amazing to travel to see yak where they are a part of everyday life.

After The Spring Snow Squall

2011-04-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Thankfully it was a short-lived spring storm. The ground was warm before it started and now it's wet underneath the snow which makes for some tough slogging. Rubber boots are the footwear of choice, but I had to dump them out a few times after walking through snow that was deeper than the tops of them!

The sun is always a welcome sight after a storm.

Has Spring Finally Sprung?

2011-04-01T17:28:00.000-07:00

The signs of spring are here and so many of them have shown up this past week! There are new calves in the neighbour's pastures, swans, robins and best of all we heard a meadowlark this morning. No April Fools!

Even the water in the dugouts are starting to melt.

Another sign of spring in our parts? Snow. We have a winter storm warning for this weekend which is scheduled to arrive tonight and last into Sunday. 15-25 cm of snow is expected with winds of 30 to 40 km/hour.

I hope the meadowlarks survive.

Yak Presentation

2011-03-31T15:00:00.000-07:00

A big "thank you" to the Rotary Club of Pincher Creek

for inviting us to speak about yaks and Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef at their meeting today!

"Yak Fest" in Edmonton!

2011-03-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

We're really excited that our yak-cross beef was featured at the table of Edmonton Food Blogger Twyla Campbell this past weekend!

You can read all about it here:

http://weirdwildandwonderful.blogspot.com/2011/03/yak-meat-wine-and-candlelight-how-to.html

Thanks Twyla for your enthusiastic support!

Feeding The Cows On A Frosty Morning

2011-03-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Salt Lick

2011-03-16T17:30:00.000-07:00

Can you spot the similarities between these two....

... and Ben Crane's painting "Salt Lick" ?

Milking a Yak

2011-03-09T12:28:00.000-08:00

Milking a yak is not as easy as it sounds...

or as easy as this lady makes it look, unless you have a very tame yak!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imranthetrekker/232681244/

Female yaks have a much smaller udder than regular cattle, which can make it harder to get the milk out, depending on the size of your hands. Instead of using a full fist, a thumb, index and middle fingers are about all you can get around the smaller "equipment" in order to complete the milking process.

The only time we've stepped in to milk a yak is when a newborn has trouble latching on to its mother, which isn't very common. Yak calves are quite vigorous, stand up and generally start sucking sooner than our Angus/Galloway cross calves.

Yak milk is a deep yellow color and can even look slightly pink. The yak mamas don't produce a whole lot of milk, but then their little babies don't need much either. They eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.
A lesson to be learned for us humans.

Some yak owners milk their animals to make cheese, as it is available at select gourmet food stores. Yak cheese reportedly contains higher levels of heart healthy fats than cheese made from dairy cow milk.
See this article for details:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317093858.htm

However, I can't see yak cheese being available on a large scale anytime soon. The North American yak herd numbers are low and it would take some time to build up to a level where this would be feasible.

On a lighter note, if you remember my posting on the children's book:
"Go Track A Yak", even Papa milked a yak.

And they all lived happily ever after.

The Ground Blizzard

2011-03-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

This has been a brutal winter in our little corner of the world and we are definitely ready for spring to arrive. With La Nina in full force, we have had, what seems like, an endless cycle every couple of days of cold and snow, then warmer temperatures with strong winds. The latter part of the cycle can result in a ground blizzard and major drifting.

This past Saturday we woke up to strong winds with near whiteout conditions due to the most recent snowfall. This time, the problem was that it hadn’t warmed up to near freezing. It was minus 10 degrees Celsius, with an extremely cold windchill! Doing chores was, shall we say, less than pleasant. It would have been nice to have worn a yak coat!

I managed to pull my hands out of my gloves for a few seconds to take a couple of shots.

Thankfully it calmed down partway through the morning and by that time the critters were eagerly awaiting their breakfast.

Twins...Double The Work Or Double The Fun?

2011-02-22T21:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes when a cow delivers twins and they both survive birth, she will accept one and reject the other. This creates extra work as the rancher has to try and convince the mother to accept both calves, graft the rejected calf on to a cow who has lost her own calf, bottle feed it themselves or sell the calf. Believe me, bottle-feeding involves the most work out of all the options, so when a cow accepts both calves, we are very thankful.

We have had several sets of twins over the years, but the two yak-cross heifer calves in the photo below are the only ones which we've had in our herd on a long term basis. They were born in 2001 to a black brockle-faced Angus cow crossed with a yak bull.

Here's what these twins look like in 2011 at age ten. These magnificent mommas hang out together quite a bit, just like close sisters often do.

Yakky Valentines Day!

2011-02-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

YakTrax

2011-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

Let me just start off by saying, this is not a paid endorsement.

In my quest to spend a much appreciated gift card I received this past Christmas, I bought a pair of YakTrax. YakTrax Pro to be precise. What are YakTrax? They are a device that you strap on to the bottom of your footwear to give better grip while walking on packed snow and ice.

I didn't buy them because of the name, although I have to admit that did intrigue me at first. Honestly, I bought them because they didn't have my size in the brand I really wanted and YakTrax were the only other choice. The other brand was much beefier (my apologies to yak everywhere) with chains, spikes and everything. They were also more expensive. Apparently they are used for mountain climbing, which I don't do. I just need to be able to walk upright while walking around the farm doing chores in winter.

Retrospectively, the YakTrax were probably the wiser choice for me anyway. I'm able to walk into the entrance of our house with them on (on rugs only - don't try this on tile, cement or other smooth surfaces!), where I would have had to take the spiked ones on and off constantly.

This is how they look on my (dirty!) boots:

So far, so good. The only weather I seem to have difficulty with is when the temperature rises and there is a layer of snow on top of the ice. The entire bottom of my boot tends to build up with snow and I slip on the ice underneath anyway. Thankfully, we don't have those kinds of conditions all that often. They do grip fairly well the rest of the time.

Some might wonder why would this company call them YakTrax, obviously named after the animal. Quite simply, yak are equipped with sharf-edged hooves that bite into the ice and snow. After all, they originate from Tibet and are used for packing supplies at least part of the way up Mount Everest. You have to have good footing to survive in that part of the world.

Here is an imprint in the snow left behind by a yak which clearly illustrates the shape of their hooves.

Whenever we have moved regular cattle along with yaks on packed snow and ice, the difference is easy to see. While the cattle slip and slide, the yaks run no problem, because they have better hoofwear.

Like Mother, Like Son?

2011-01-25T12:25:00.000-08:00

Number 21 was born to a black white-faced Angus cow (bred yak) on
September 21, 2001, one of our late calves that year.

Hooves down, she is our most uniquely colored critter, ever.

When she was younger, she was always the eager beaver, so to speak.

She was first in line when the hay bales were rolled out in winter,

first in line when we moved the herd, etc.

However, she has mellowed over the last couple of years and now lets others take the lead.

She has been a great mother and has always thrown a fairly plain looking calf. That is, until last year.

When she calved on July 4, 2010, we couldn't believe it.

He's nearly the spittin' image of her.

Although we don't normally name our yaks and yak-crosses, perhaps we should have called him "Blackjack"?

Go Track A Yak

2011-01-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

A few years ago, a friend of ours gave us a copy of the very uniquely illustrated children’s book by Tony Johnston “Go Track A Yak!”.

I couldn't help but make some light-hearted comparisons of what was written in this book to what yaks are actually like and how to handle them. It contains some truths, but also some misconceptions about the yak.

First truth:

Second truth:

Actually, I didn't find anymore truths.

First misconception:

Roping is not the best way to subdue a yak.

Second misconception:

The only yak that would stand this calmly while being tied up,
is one that has been hand-raised!

Third misconception:

Yaks don’t moo.

Nor do they go “yuk, yuk, yuk”.

They grunt. See my previous post about "The Grunting Ox".

Fourth misconception:

Hugging a yak is never a good idea!

2011 Springridge Ranch Calendar

2011-01-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you would like a pdf version of our 2011 one page calendar, please send us an email and we will gladly send you one! Email: eat_more_yak@yahoo.ca

Happy New Yak!

2011-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Yak! Yak! Yak! Merry Christmas!

2010-12-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

Moooooving Cows

2010-12-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

Our luck ran out with the stretch of warm weather we had in November so it was time to bring the cows home after it turned very snowy and cold. We had been driving the tractor out to the pasture with hay bales to supplement them for a few days until we had enough available riders to bring them home. As it turned out, we just about couldn't have picked a better day for the job as it was the warmest in amongst the cold ones! Even the wind wasn't too strong. And we had a nice sunrise to boot.

Yaks In A Blizzard

2010-11-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

According to Wikipedia, this is the definition of a blizzard:

"A blizzard is a severe storm condition characterized by low temperatures, strong winds, and can include heavy snow. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h). Additionally, blizzards must reduce visibility to 400 metres (1,300 ft) or less and must last for a prolonged period of time — typically three hours or more."

Yes indeed, that's what we experienced last week.

How does severe weather like this affect the critters? Well, the Yaks and Yak-crosses carry on like it's an ordinary day. The layer of fat which lies just under their skin, combined with their hairy coats, protect them from the cold and wind. This is how they survive in their native Tibet.

I wasn't able to get out in this particular blizzard to get photos of the yaks, so I thought I'd share some from previous years.

The photo below is my all time favorite post-blizzard shot, back in the days before I owned a digital camera.

I also found this great video of yaks in a blizzard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5hZxrhJfD8

Yak Steak

2010-11-15T12:10:00.000-08:00

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. If that's true, then I don't need to say much about the smile on this hombre's face as he sat down to enjoy a Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef Steak!

Now thats what you call filling your plate.

The Great Yak Round Up...Sort Of!

2010-11-01T07:59:00.000-07:00

Recently we went to round up our yearlings and bring them home from their summer pasture. We thought it was going to be the "great yak round-up". When we arrived, this is what we saw.

ALL of them, standing at the gate, as if they were waiting for their ride home! It was a little disappointing as we anticipated a nice afternoon ride to exercise our horses and enjoy the warm weather while it lasted.
We went for a ride anyway.

A black bear sighting added a little excitement to the day!

The "kids" sure have grown the last couple of months. Some of them have the most interesting horns, each set is unique.

And some don't have any horns at all.

Heading home after a great afternoon.

Next to come home are the cows...which won't be for a few more weeks yet.

Fall Fill-Your-Freezer Sale - 10% Off!

2010-10-20T09:23:00.000-07:00

With the days getting shorter, you know that winter is just around the corner. Time to stock up your freezer!

We are offering 10% off individual cuts (if you buy $50 or more), eighths, quarters, sides, hey, buy an entire animal with this deal!

Click here to see our regular price list. Remember this is 10% off right now.

We also have a special on packages of ground.

Buy 4, get 1 free!

We have packages of 6 patties, regular price is $12.00,

with 10% off they are now $10.80.

These patties are straight yak-cross beef, absolutely no fillers.

Please contact us: eat_more_yak@yahoo.ca

The Grunting Ox

2010-10-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Yaks don't "moo" like regular cattle. Instead, they make a grunting sound, which is why they have the nickname "The Grunting Ox".

To hear what they sound like, check out this YouTube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ_zm5oOuLc

Happy Yaksgiving!

2010-10-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

Yak Burgers

2010-09-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like this meal in the fall. Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef burgers, new potatoes with dill butter and Taber corn-on-the cob! Mmmmm....

Yak Skulls For Sale

2010-09-23T11:26:00.000-07:00

Yak skulls come in all shapes and sizes!

Folks who buy them from us have various uses in mind, everything from painting on them to hanging them on an overhead gate.

What would you do with a yak skull?

This one (above and below) is 32 inches from tip to tip. $100.00

Here are some others that have been boiled out.

These skulls range in price from $50.00 to $200.00, depending on the size.

We also have skulls for sale that are "raw".
That is, they have not been boiled out and cleaned as the ones above have.
Raw skulls start at $25.00.

Horizon Meats

2010-09-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

Stu (left below) and Todd (right below) are the owners of Horizon Meats in Calgary. They are two of the nicest, helpful and talented guys you'll ever meat (pardon the pun)!

And guess what, you can get Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef at their store!

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef Recipes

2010-09-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef can be used in any of your favourite beef recipes. However, cooking time can be shortened due to the lower fat content. Here are a few of our favorite recipes at the ranch.

BUSY DAY YAK STEW

2 lb Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef stewing meat, cubed
2 medium onions, diced
1 cup chopped celery
2 cups sliced carrots
4 medium potatoes, diced
2 ½ Tbsp quick cooking Tapioca
1 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
10 ¾ oz can tomato soup
1 soup can water

Layer Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef and vegetables in slow cooker. Sprinkle with tapioca, sugar, salt, and pepper. Combine soup and water and pour into slow cooker. Do not stir. Cover. Cook on low 6-8 hours.

HAWAIIAN YAK STIR FRY

½ tsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce, divided
1 lb Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef stir fry meat or top sirloin grilling steak, cut into 3/4” cubes
¼ cup ketchup
1 Tbsp sugar
1 can (398 mL) pineapple chunks
1 green or red sweet pepper, cut into 3/4” pieces
1-2 cloves garlic, minced or ½ tsp garlic powder

In medium bowl, dissolve cornstarch and 1 Tbsp Worchestershire Sauce. Add Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef and toss to coat. In small bowl mix ketchup, sugar and 1 Tbsp each Worchestershire Sauce and juice from pineapple for sauce; drain pineapple. Brown Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef in a large oiled skillet over medium-high heat. Remove and set aside. In same skillet heat 2 Tbsp water over medium-high heat; add peppers and garlic. Cook and stir 3-4 minutes or until water evaporates and peppers are crisp-tender. Reduce heat and stir in sauce mixture, pineapple and Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef along with any accumulated juices. Heat through and serve over hot rice.

YAK CHILI

1 lb ground Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef
1 small onion
1 tsp minced garlic
1 green pepper
1 jalapeno pepper (if you like it hot!)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans
1 can brown beans in tomato sauce
1/4 cup fresh cilantro
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Fry ground Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef and onion until no pink remains in meat and onion is soft. Transfer to a slow cooker and add remaining ingredients. Cook 6-8 hours.

BAKED YAK BURGERS

Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef burgers:
1 lb ground Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef
1 small onion
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
salt & pepper to taste

Sauce:
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tsp mustard
3/4 tsp salt

Shape patties. Place in shallow pan and pour sauce on top. Bake at 350 F for 1 hour.

BBQ YAK ROAST

Cook a Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef roast (any cut) until done. Slice thinly or shred, add your favourite BBQ sauce and heat thoroughly. Serve on a Kaiser bun.

ENJOY!

Where To Buy Springridge Ranch Yak-Cross Beef

2010-09-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

1) You can buy Springridge Ranch yak-cross beef directly from us. Please email: eat_more_yak@yahoo.ca

2) You can visit our booth at the Pincher Creek Farmer's Market, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, every Friday up to and including October 15, 2010. It's held at Pioneer Place (Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village), 1037 Bev McLachlin Drive, Pincher Creek, Alberta.

3) Horizon Meats sells Springridge Ranch yak-cross beef and they are located at: #1, 3610-29 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta. http://www.horizonmeats.ca/

Yak Information and Price List

2010-09-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

The Tibetan Yak

The Tibetan Yak is native to the high plateaus and mountainous regions of the Himalayas and is a very hardy and sure-footed animal. Known for its long, shaggy coat, it weighs from 800-1500 lb. and has a life span of 25 years. It sports a set of massive horns, has a hump at the shoulders, and has short sturdy legs and very sharp hooves, enabling it to walk on ice or climb steep cliffs. Yaks have been domesticated for over 4000 years. They are raised for their wool, meat, milk and hides, and are used as pack animals. They have a high protein, low fat meat, most of the fat being on the outside of the carcass for warmth.

Yaks are easy calving and cross well with cattle. They require much less feed and can better utilize and convert their feed than cattle.

Yak-Cross Cattle

Yak-cross cattle, or dzo, retain the high protein, low fat meat of the pure yak, while showing more growth due to the hybrid vigor. They are also very hardy and require much less feed than cattle to maintain weight or to finish.

Yak-cross cows have strong maternal instincts, and produce a very rich milk in a small compact udder. Yak-cross calves demonstrate strong hybrid vigor and “hit the ground running”. They tend to be more resistant to disease than cattle.

Yak-Cross Beef

• High in protein
• Low in fat, cholesterol and triglycerides
• High in omega 3, stearic and conjugated linoleic (good) acids
• Low in palmitic (bad) acids
• Delicate beef flavour due to the different proportions of fatty acids
• Very tender
• No growth hormone implants
• Pasture raised
• Finished on free choice quality hay with a little grain

Ideal part of a health-conscious diet

Sources: International Yak Association, University of Nebraska Experimental Farm, McRoberts Game Ranch (Gurly, Nebraska), Texas A&M University.

Springridge Ranch Natural Yak-Cross Beef

Our yak-cross beef is aged naturally 14 days, government inspected and graded, professionally cut, wrapped and frozen.

We sell yak-cross beef by the side, quarter, eighth, freezer pack, or piece.

Current Price List (Prices subject to change)

Carcass – side, quarter, eighth - $2.95/lb

Steaks
T-bone $9.00/lb
Sirloin $7.00/lb
Rib $7.00/lb
Club $7.00/lb
Round $6.00/lb

Roasts
Prime Rib $9.00/lb
Cross Rib $7.00/lb
Sirloin Tip $7.00/lb
Eye of Round $6.50/lb
Round $6.00/lb
Chuck $5.50/lb

Stew Meat/Stir Fry $5.00/lb

Ground $4.00/lb

We also sell horned skulls for Western decor, and tail hair. Inquire for prices.

“Try the cattle-yak of beef!”

Interview on CBC Radio Edmonton!

2010-09-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to Edmonton blogger Twyla Campbell for her fantastic interview on CBC Radio Edmonton this morning! She did a great job of promoting our yak-cross beef!

If you want to have a listen, follow the link on Twyla's blog:

http://weirdwildandwonderful.blogspot.com/2010/09/alberta-yak-from-springridge-ranch.html

Yak Photos

2010-03-29T10:00:00.002-07:00

Yak Bull

Yak-Cross Cattle

Yearlings On Green Grass

Youngsters Out On Pasture

Yearlings

Panorama