The journey into the abyss of no return

[Margali]

Yak wool is the downy layer under guard hairs. It’s a luxury spinning wool. I think there is some extra processing involved to get long guard hairs out of it but I don’t recall that part of friends monologue of delight on getting some to try.

 

[SageHill]

Yak wool is the downy layer under guard hairs. It’s a luxury spinning wool. I think there is some extra processing involved to get long guard hairs out of it but I don’t recall that part of friends monologue of delight on getting some to try.

Awesome!! Learn something new every day!!

 

[Baymule]

The Royal Yaks are black and white spotted. Somebody here in Texas posted a pair of them on Craigslist for only $4000 each. Dunno just why I didn’t run over to buy them? $$$$$$
I believe you harvest the valuable under wool by picking it up when they shed in the spring. Maybe if you made pets out of them, you could comb it out or pluck it as it loosened. If memory serves me, they come from the Himalayan mountains. If they can do well in that climate, they should do well for you.

Do your research. What is the going price for the wool, price of meat, and the hides. The skulls should have value also. Haha, make yourself a yak coat, you would never feel the cold again. Hmmmm…… a yak floor rug? House shoes?

 

[farmerjan]

My son hauled 2 yaks from someone that had raised them, and they were the meanest most dangerous things he says he has ever hauled.... Tried to get the people they came from, rammed the trailer inside repeatedly, and he was very glad to get them off... Not sure what the new people did with them... they dealt in exotic animals...
I have heard that they are milked and used for draft animals, so these 2 might not be a good representative of the breed. Could be like cattle, there are some that only belong hanging in the meat cooler....

 

[Ridgetop]

Be careful with the Yak idea. New stuff comes in a a new market craze and the first sellers rave about the marketability of the meat, wool, hides, etc. Then reality sets in and the market for them crashes. If you want a wooly breed of cattle, check into Highland cattle. Huge horns and long hair. Or if yu want a smaller breed you can find Dexter cattle. Theyare a small breed that can be used for both milk and beef.

Remember when Ostriches and Emus were a craze and their meat was going to be the newest and most marketable thng ever. First pairs went for $10,000! Ten years later you couldn't give them away. Bad tempered, dangerous, and expensive to keep.

Same thing with Lamas and Alpacas - expensive to find and buy. Then people realized that the market for the lovely wool was almost non-existent. Not too many byers for hand spinning wool - it is a specialized hobby. Again you couldn't find any buyers for them after about 10 years ecept as pets. We got 2 Llamas about 15 years ago through a rescue.

 

[Ridgetop]

If it s a hobby, enjoy it. Remember that bison need really strong fences. But most of us here started out with a "hobby" and look at us now.

 

[SageHill]

If it s a hobby, enjoy it. Remember that bison need really strong fences. But most of us here started out with a "hobby" and look at us now.

There was a place not far from here that had a herd of bison. Oh man - gorgeous animals, and OH MY even back then I envied those fences!