News to Yak About

Brent, our head yak master here at WoodsEdge, just returned from the International Yak Show and Conference, held annually at the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado. He had a great time, made lots of friends and bought the Reserve Champion bull along with a few other cows. Photos should be forthcoming on our new Tibetan Yak Foundation Female and Signature Sire pages, on our web site. It is not live yet, but keep checking - it will be soon!

Stock Yards at the 2013 National Western Stock Show, Denver, CO

Coincidentally, on Brent’s first day back at the farm, a new yak heifer calf born! It was a typical winter thaw January day in New Jersey with temperatures climbing out of the deep freeze to start snowing, then sleeting and gradually warming up enough to rain. After growing up in Iowa, New Jersey weather never ceases to amaze me after 40 years of living here!  

Fortunately, this mama yak was no ordinary cow. She is one of the infamous elite McRobert/Puckett yaks, who we affectionately call Boss Mama. She has earned her title respectfully as a stellar wooly Imperial who is a no nonsense mama and herd protector. A little funky New Jersey weather was not about to get in her way of birthing another outstanding wooly Imperial yak! Ollie, our resident yak whisperer, and caretaker of yak has done a marvelous job with taming this wild and wooly group from Nebraska! Hence it was no surprise to Ollie that Boss Mama chose the dry bedding in the barn to have her new calf. I am sure Jerry McRoberts (God rest his soul) never imagined one of his cantankerous cows choosing a barn to birth in, but then that is why we have always said the animals who are lucky enough to be chosen as WoodsEdge bloodstock come to the WoodsEdge Spa and Resort.

Boss Mama with her 2 day old calf.

We are happy to report that Boss Mama and her lively heifer calf that is up and running, are both doing fine! This calf takes its place as one of the elite few who earned the name as McRoberts’ BEST, out of his two best bulls that he sold to Tad Puckett along with this elite group of cows right before he died. Having known Jerry and his brother Wayne, and their wives Barb and Cathy (who was one of our first alpaca garment models) since the mid 1980’s, I am sure Jerry would be pleased his elite yak who were the love of his life (other than his wife and daughter Brooke) are in a breeding program that is determined to take Tibetan Yak to the next level.

Thanks Jerry! With every calf out of your breeding program, your name and reputation as the foremost breeder of Tibetan Yak in North America remains talked about! Brent and I are so grateful we have these genetic treasures in our herd.

Yakfully yours,

Linda Berry Walker & Brent Walker

Breeding Award Winning Fibers since 1976