About Yak

Wild yak were domesticated on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau about 4,500 years ago. Just as the buffalo sustained Native Americans, the yak provided Tibetan tribes with meat, milk, butter, cheese, wool, leather and fuel.

These beautiful animals have a reputation of being calmer than bison but smarter than cattle. An interesting discovery was that yak are more closely related to the American bison than the European bison.

Yak evolved in the harshest of environments, the Himalayan Mountains. The highest point on Earth, Mt. Everest, is located there at 29,029 feet above sea level!

Dr. King’s Interest in Yak

Dr. King’s quest to understanding the health benefits of wild meat led to his exciting discovery of Himalayan yak.

Ever since his patients improved after replacing the beef in their diets with bison meat in the 1970s, Dr. King has researched the potential health benefits of many ancient animal breeds, including this remarkable animal.

Having evolved at such high elevations where oxygen is scarce, it’s no wonder that the lung capacity of yaks is about three times that of cattle.

In addition, their red blood cells are smaller, improving their blood’s ability to carry oxygen. This may be why yak meat is such a brilliant wine-red color.

Healthy Fats

In the past couple of decades, a tremendous amount of research has come out about the importance of healthy fats in our diets. The proper functioning of our brain and nervous system relies on them.

Yak meat is very high in omega-3 fatty acids, the kind that support our health.

Dr. King’s cultural anthropology research and the desire to increase human health and longevity led to the introduction of this impressive animal to Dr. King’s Farms.

The Healthiest Red Meat

Yak meat is the healthiest and tastiest meat on the market today.

A rich, red-wine color, yak meat is more delicious than beef. Although very lean, yak meat remains juicy and delicate in flavor, with no gamey taste whatsoever.

  • 100% grass fed
  • Yak is ultra-lean – a red meat as low in cholesterol as turkey breast!
  • Yak has 1/6th the fat and 40% more protein than beef.
  • Higher in protein than beef, bison, pork, and chicken.
  • Higher in healthy omega-3 oils than beef, bison, pork, and poultry.
  • Lower in calories, fats, and cholesterol than beef, bison, pork, and chicken.
  • 29% lower than beef in “bad” palmitic fats, which are associated with high cholesterol and heart disease.

How Dr. King’s Yak are Raised

Dr. King’s Himalayan yak are naturally and locally raised on multiple farms in Western North Carolina, without the use of antibiotics, steroids, hormones, or other growth agents.  

The yak’s prehistoric genetics make it well suited to thrive under the care of Dr. King’s specialized farming practices.

By connecting the animals to their original sources of nutrition and wellness, Dr. King cultivates the superior health-giving quality of the therapeutic superfoods they provide.

Our herd of yak is fifty strong and continually growing. We sell the meat from our farm in Leicester, North Carolina, and from other local breeders who meet our stringent standards of purity.

Ready to Try Yak?

Dr. King invites you to reconnect to the unmanipulated genetics of this ancient breed that nourished humanity for millennia – and enjoy superb flavor, as well.

Cook “low and slow,” with suggested cooking between rare and medium. Yak can easily catch fire on the grill due to all the healthy omega-3 oils, which you’ll see dripping out.

Three Ways to Shop for Dr. King’s Meats

Dr. King’s sells meat online and through fine retailers and restaurants, as well as at our home office in West Asheville. Email at least 24 hours in advance to place your order for pickup: info (at) carolinabison (dot) com.

You can also purchase meats after farm tours at Dr. King’s Farms store.

In addition, we sell breeding stock to those who want to start or increase their herds.

Dr. King’s Farms has earned a respected reputation of having some of the most impressive and rarest breeding stock in the country. Ranchers from all over America have purchased our prestigious livestock. Lineage and specific information for each animal are easily accessible though Dr. King’s Farms easy-to-use online tool.

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