Letter From the Board

January 1, 2021

Dear Yakkers and Yak Lovers,

We’d like to say “Welcome!” from the World Heritage Yak Conservancy (WHYC).

Why Conservancy? It is emergent that we preserve this “critically endangered“ North American Yak. We hope you will join us in our effort to preserve this Heritage Yak Breed - Tibetan Yak of North America.

Experience. Our team is made up of past presidents, board members and committee members who have been serving the yak community for years. Our members have been a part of every major yak conservation victory in the last 30 years. We include the largest premier yak breeding ranches, quality pedigreed animals, and have the support of the most serious yak breeders in North America. We also have the support of the most prestigious conservationists and prominent yak genome researchers in the world. 

Return to Quality. Our goal is to uphold good yak breeding pracices previously upheld by our associations. For our members this includes: long term pedigree, intentional breeding, and accurate genetic testing. Return to Quality also includes: supporting “Best-Practices” for breeding, prohibition of cattle hybridization, recommendations for culling diseased animals, and encouraging rigorous outbreeding. This association is: The World Heritage Yak Conservancy (WHYC) (www.heritageyak.com) and the North American Heritage Yak Registry (NAHYR).

Why WHYC? There are other associations of yak breeders in the United States, North America, or abroad. However, these groups don’t prioritize the conservation of biological diversity of this rare genome.

“These groups don’t prioritize conservation of biological diversity of this rare genome.”

This shift away from preservation and conservation of the breed, in fact poses a threat to the genetic integrity of the North American, Critically Endangered yak breed. Currently, adopted practices support unregulated hybridization with cattle; inbreeding via open multi-sire and mixed-herd breeding practices; and allows animals with “any percentage yak” to be registered. The recently adopted practice of allowing unpedigreed stock to be considered foundation herd animals will further threaten preservation.

“If yak were better understood in North America, their biological diversity would be protected and this rare genome preerved.”

The concern is that after years of hard work invested with a shared vision of creating a professional and respected breeding association, based on careful and responsible breeding practices with a primary goal of preservation, this has now been abandoned, and will advance the degradation of the North American Critically Endangered Heritage Yak breed. Hence, the urgent need to establish the World Heritage Yak Conservancy to preserve, promote and protect the North American Yak Herd through the formation of the Heritage Yak breed and this conversation organization.

Our partnership with the Livestock Conservancy brings years of experience to bear on the greatest challenges of our time - preserving genetic diversity and saving endangered heritage breeds - with a proven record of previous successes.

There is an urgent need for a group to fill the gap, collect serious breeders, protect our heritage yak pedigree and preserve the integrity of the yak genome. We have created an umbrella organization to “Preserve, Promote, and Protect” the Heritage Yak in the North American yak herd. We will accomplish this by upholding rigorous registration criterion based on our The Livestock Conservancy approved criterion., high-quality genetic testing, and by supporting ongoing breed selection practices for genetic integrity, as well as longevity, fertility, and productivity. 

In this new era, we need you. North American Yak need you. Join us to help protect the Critically Endangered Heritage Yak breed and Love Yak with us!

Warmly,

Board Members:

Nicole Geijer Porter

Larry Richards

Marc Priest

Mike Kozlowski

Committee Members:

Jandy Sprouse

Daniel Salvato

Steve Hill

Bradley Salvato

Bethany Priest

Yangbum Gyal

Anita Hill

Brent Huffman

Imran Sheik Nepali

Harry Lambides

Barbara Duke