Yak herd begins small near Berthoud

[ccharles000]

BERTHOUD — When someone mentions yaks, thoughts surface of hardy, cold-weather animals helping Sherpas carry gear up Mount Everest — not grazers on land west of Berthoud. But if you think you spot the long-haired pack animals on the Colorado country, don't blame your glasses.

Jason and Allison Gillette have started a yak herd on his parents' rural land — a herd they believe has a unique niche in a specialty market.

"It's even better than we thought, especially all the interest," said Allison, who along with Jason is moving to Larimer County from Crested Butte this month.

"Our neighbor has already asked if he can get one." She added, "It's definitely up and coming." The Gillettes started with three yaks — Max, Maddie and Maggie — and plan to expand. Eventually, they hope to sell babies, meat and specialty wool online and at farmers and wool markets.

The smallest of the Gillettes' yaks, 6-month-old Maggie, hungrily accepted a plastic bottle of milk from Allison on a recent morning.

When the woman reached down to stroke the black fur on her head, Maggie wasn't fazed; she kept eating.

Her docility is one of the major differences between a yak and a cow, Jason said.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13579989