B.C. rancher trains yaks to carry riders
Yak training in Canada: meet Toro, a calm young yak with work potential See how this rare B.C. animal could become a rider, packer, and farm star
A rancher near Salmon Arm, B.C., is training a young yak named Toro for a job beyond meat production. Jamie Kamps, who runs Black Yak Cattle Co., says the animal’s calm temperament makes him a candidate for riding and packing work.
The farm keeps about 30 Tibetan yaks, which are mostly raised for grassfinished meat. Kamps said yaks are uncommon in Canada, with only about 1,000 in the country, and noted that they can also be used for wool, fibre, and other work.
Kamps hopes Toro and other animals raised on the farm can eventually be used for riding, sleigh pulling, recreation, and public experiences such as petting zoos once they are older and properly trained.