Yak Hybrids
Yaks
are very similar to cows. They share the same genus but are a different
species. Yaks can cross-breed with cows and form an offspring called a hybrid.
However, yak-cow hybrids follow "Haldane's Rule" which states,
"When in the F1 offspring of two different animal races one sex is
absent, rare, or sterile, that sex is the heterozygous [heterogametic] sex."
In other words, the male hybrids are sterile. Female yak-cow hybrids
are fertile.
Reference:
"Fertility investigations in the F1 hybrid and backcross progeny of
cattle (Bos taurus) and yak (B. grunniens) in Mongolia."
Tumennasan, K, Tuya T, Hotta Y, Takase H, Speed RM, Chandley AC.
Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1997;78(1):69-73.
There are at least 124 different combinations of yak-cattle hybrids in Nepal alone.
The yak hybrids pictured are half yak and half Watusi. The father is a yak "River Satsop" and the mother is a Watusi cow. Their brown/black & white patched coloration is more than likely due to the Royal yak gene which all trim yaks carry. Hybrids grow quickly and will usually grow bigger than their parents.
Yak
+ Watusi = Yaktusi (or Wak)!
 Yak/Watusi hybrid, male, born: 3/29/02 |
 ........Yak/Watusi hybrid, male, born: 3/3/03 |
 Yak/Watusi hybrid, female, "Powwow" born: 4/3/04 |
 Yak/Watusi hybrid, female, "President Debbie" born: 2/21/05 |
Yak
hybrids FOR SALE!
for prices email tracy@starsunmoon.com
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So far 5 of River's offspring have been black and white "royal" hybrids. His 5th calf, born in May 2006, was a big surprise! His mother is Powwow, River's calf from 2004, and we had no idea she was pregnant! So this little calf is 3/4 yak and 1/4 Watusi. He definitely has more of a yak-like build than the 1/2 yak hybrids. Although it's not appearant in the picture, his eyes are blue. He is absolutely gorgeous!
On
the day he was born, I was glancing down at the cow pasture and I saw River
tossing this little black and white thing up in the air with his horns! I
thought it was one of my cats. I gaspped and ran for it, realizing afterwards
that it was a little calf. I climbed through the fence and shooed River away.
Powwow, his mother, ran too. I scooped the helpless creature up in my arms
and carried him to safety. I examined him for injuries, but there were none
and he seemed to be fine. I then separated his mother from the rest of the
herd and reunited the two. I watched them for a while and saw that Powwow
would not let him nurse from her. She was young and this was her first calf,
so maybe she did not know what to do. Later that evening I went to visit them
and Powwow charged me with full intent to kill! The next morning Powwow was
back in with the rest of the herd, obviously oblivious to the fence that was
supposed to separate her from them. I found her calf on the outside of the
pasture fence. So I decided that maybe it was best that I bottle feed him
to ensure that he gets his milk and that he doesn't get killed by River -
and that I don't get killed by Powwow!
Powwow has since calmed down and she is back to her usual placid self again.
River has never had the opportunity to "toss" his calves before because the Watusi cow, who used to be the only only "momma cow" here, is very protective of her calves, and would not tolerate such behavior from River. Powwow on the other hand, is new at motherhood and did not realize that she needed to protect her new calf from the big, bad bull!
I plan to train the new calf to pack and trek so that he can go on a trip into Idaho's back country with me and the horses.
