From meat to the saddle: B.C. rancher trains yaks to carry riders

A B.C. rancher is training yaks to carry riders, moving away from their traditional purpose of providing meat. Jamie Kamps operates Black Yak Cattle Co., which raises about 30 Tibetan yaks primarily for grass-finished meat, with some also raised for their wool and fibre. Yaks are less common in Canada, with estimates of only around 1,000 in the country.

However, Kamps sees potential in one of her younger yaks, Toro, for a different future. Yaks from Central Asia have historically been used to carry people and heavy loads, and their thick coats help them withstand cold conditions. Kamps believes Toro, a one-and-a-half-year-old yak, could be trained to carry riders as early as two years old.

She also notes that yaks can be trained to pull sleighs or carry loads, thanks to their sturdy build and calm temperament. Kamps aims to create a group of mature, well-trained yaks that could be used for recreational packing, packing, and even as pets in petting zoos once they are old enough and trained safely for public interaction.

For now, Kamps is focusing on training Toro and other yaks to explore the potential of these animals beyond the meat market.