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RAISING YAKS...THE MONTANA WAY B Y LY N D S AY B R U N O E D I TO R
Where in Montana can you find a Tibetan Yak and a resident camel? Nestled near Kalispell is Spring Brook Yak Ranch, home to Tibetan yak, horses and Carlos the Camel. Jim and Carol Watson own the 1,000 acre ranch which is under a permanent conservation easement with the Montana Land Reliance. The Watsons received Carlos the camel in a trade for a yak heifer and bull from a ranch in Colorado. Christy Novak is the rancher manager and lives on the property. Spring Brook Ranch produces national champion show stock, fiber, pack stock and meat stock. The yak are raised as high-end breeding stock for other yak breeders. Jim grew up on a ranch in Mississippi.
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SPRING BROOK RANCH
He moved to Bozeman in the 1980’s to work as a mechanical engineer. The ranch was originally started by Carol’s parents with mostly bison. When Carol’s parents passed away they took over the operation. Jim Watson said his background in agriculture has come in handy. “We have learned a lot by trial and error and much of it is standard cattle animal husbandry,” said Watson. “Nutrition of the animal is very important. With each animal we slaughter we take liver samples to give us a greater understanding of the nutrition program we should Christy Novak manages Spring Brook Ranch. Courtesy of Spring Brook Ranch. be following.” Montana makes for an ideal environment for yaks because the higher altitude accommodates the yak’s lung capacity. They survive at 14,000 feet in the mountains of Tibet and need a good cold winter to flourish. They can stand heat as long as the climate is dry. There are less than a handful of yak breeders in Montana. The highest concentration of yak breeders is in Colorado because of its close proximity to the nation’s largest stock show in Denver.
as tame as you want to make them. When the yak cows develop trust they pass that on to the calves.”
A Knack for Science and Genetics Not only does Spring Brook Ranch breed high-end stock, they also pride themselves on their studies of yak genetics. Their primary customers are in North America, with business expanding in Alaska. Their artificial insemination program is robust. “We have gotten quite good at it. For instance in Alaska Novak says what differentiates they haven’t had new genetics in yaks from beef cattle is their many decades. Shipping semen to personality. “They are so much Alaska has resulted in five bulls. smarter than cows. That gives them a rich personality. They are C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 5
Novak says trust of humans gets passed on from mommas to their babies. Photo courtesy of Spring Brook Ranch.
