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Show WOOLY TIBETAN OX MAY I BE BROUGHT TO UTAH BY ! PROMINENT STOCKMEN Thomas C. Mercer, a well known Ogden stockman, today said with enthusiasm en-thusiasm that he would be pleased to sec the Utah State authorities take an : active interest in the proposed intro-ductlon intro-ductlon to this section of the yak, or woolly Tibetan ox, which Is now claiming claim-ing much attention from the livestock promoters of Nevada and of the Canadian Cana-dian provinces. "The reports of the superiority of this wonderful range animal," said Mr. Mercer, "justify our serious consideration. con-sideration. Our state should acquire several pairs and co-operate with other oth-er sections in experimenting with a view to the creation of a great new livestock industry. The cost would be small and the results might be of enormous importance to thestockmon of this region which is said to be Ideally adapted to the needs of the jak." Texas Sets Example. Mr. Mercer said that Texas had set a good example in tho introduction of the zebu, a humped beef animal from the Orient, that the largest steer ver produced, recently slaughtered in Germany, was part zebu, of the Texas type. The yak comes from Tibet, -where it is domesticated. It Is a giant ox, standing six feet at the shoulders. It is covered with a thick coat of long silky hair, hanging down like the fleece of a sheep, completely investing invest-ing the tall and forming a lengthy fringe along the shoulders, flanks and thighs. This heavy fringe affords protection to the animal in its alpine haunts, as the long hair forms a mat which protects the body from the cold when the animal is reposing in the snow. Meat Superior to Beef. The milk of the yak cow is said by experts to be very rich, large in average aver-age quantity and yields excellent butter. but-ter. The flesh is said to be of the finest quality, superior to the best beef, on that of the calves is far superior su-perior to ordinary veal. The yak's hair is spun into ropes and robes and made into coverings, and the soft fur of the hump and withers is woven into a fiue, strong cloth. The yak has been successfully bred in Europe by the Duke of Bedford and others and experts say it can be advantageously introduced into this section of America. The animal at- ( I tains enormous weight, lives to a $ f great age, thrlvos upon weeds and E wild grasses like a goat, and requires f I no shelter or other protection. j R Pawnee BUI, owner of a ranch in I I Oklahoma, who has been experiment- j Ing with cross-breeding the buffalo j; ! and ordinary cattle, is now reported j to be preparing to try out tho yak, f which the Duke of Bedford declares i is perfectly adapted for such breed- ': ing purposes. j oo '' t |
