The Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China is intensifying the development of the yak industry and achieving impressive results.
A frozen yak sperm station has been established in Damxung County, where 165 head of specially bred high quality yaks are being raised. The station is equipped with sperm-freezing apparatus imported from France.
Station workers say it is planned to set up a yak biological center similar to the station. A scientific and technological service company will be based at the center and there will be other yak breeding bases, to develop special yak products.
The Yak is native to highland pasture areas. There are now more than 14 million yaks worldwide with 12 million of these in China. Most graze and live on China's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world", and on nearby highlands which reach an elevation of over 3,000 meters.
Tibetan Yaks were formerly farmed and used for transporting goods. Today with the construction of more highways and the increased use of modern agricultural equipment, yaks are rarely used in this way. Instead, they are raised for wool, milk and beef.
At present, Tibet has more than 20 enterprises engaged in manufacturing about 100 kinds of products like yak beef jerky, yak milk, woolen sweaters, mounted yak skull and horns and yak horn combs.
Experts said that yak beef has a high protein and low fat content, and is used as a tonic in Tibetan medicine. Due to its high quality, yak beef is especially popular on Hong Kong and Macao markets.
Construction of a new production base for the Xiyu Foods Development Co., Ltd., the biggest yak products project in Tibet, is under way since last year. With a total investment of 140 million yuan (US$16.86 million), the production base, equipped with high technology, is designed to develop yak beef, hide, blood and bone products.
( May 23, 2002)
