Seward daily gateway., 1925-09-08
YAK EXPERIMENT DESCRIBED BY
 C.C. GEORGES0N
NATIONALLY KNOWN AGRONO MIST OF ALASKA RELATES
 EXPERIMENT PROBLEMS
After Yak for Many Years
Nucleus of Herd Well Under Way At Fairbanks Station-Wants
 Hardy Breed of Cattle.

One of the most interesting of ex- periments which has been carried on the last few years, by pr. c. [. Georgeson, director of Alaska EX- perimental stations, is that of cross breeding the Yak and Galloway dairy stock, according to the agronomlst who recently paid Seward a brief visit. As a result of the experiments to date the station at Fairbanks has three hybreds, sired by the Yak bull out of Galloway COWS An in- teresting story concerns this expert ment, Dr. Georgeson stated to the Seward Gateway.
 Yak Habitat High Elevation People have asked Dr. Georgeson of what good are the Yak. He had studied the Yak for many years. To those who might not know anything about the animal, the Yak has it's natural habitat in high elevations, or attitudes, in Asia, where they roam wild They are found at attitudes from 10000 to 16,000 feet and they do not voluntarily go below 10000 feet, it is stated. The Yak loves the cold climate. And nature has pro- tected them with an extreme heavy coat of hair, hanging down similar to a skirt. This serves to protect the vital parts of the animal from the ground or snow.
 Attempts Purchase Yak.
 The thought occurred to Dr. George son that probably he could produce a breed of cattle as hardy as the moose yet with all the qualities of a domestic bovine. The Yak is a do- mesticated animal as we'll as wild. Alaska has Il immense tract of land suitable for cattle raising, Dr. George son said, and especially north of the Arctic Circle. Why not develop this breed of animals so that the inn mense pasture be utilized? With
 
 with firm in England who made it a business importing and exporting Yak They offered to supply him with two and three-year old Yak at $250 each, laid down in Baltimore, but after applying to the bureau for funds for the purchase Dr. GeorgesOn was not able to secure the money, the bureau chief stating the idea was visionary. Shortly after the world war came on and many Yak were killed, the meat being supplied to the British army. Following the war the English firm gave up importing Yak, but in the meantime, Dr. George son, who had never given up hope of procuring Yak for his Alaska ex- periments, was informed there was a herd in Canada. Upon inquiry, he learned they were two bulls and four female Yak, all pure bred stock the herd So he went to Banff, Canada, where the herd was, and spoke to the superintendent. This man took him out to the park and showed him the herd which num- bered 21 head of all ages. The sup erintendent, it is stated, told Dr. Georgeson that the Yak were of no good purpose excepting for show purposes, and promised the doctor that he would permit him to take nine head, but at the same time ask ed him if he was going to start an Alaskan zoo. Dr. Georgeson explain ed his plans quite freely, in fact as he states the case, much too free ly with the result it evidently start ed the superintendent to thinking along the same lines.
 Corresponded with Russia.
 During this period, Dr. Georgeson had been in correspondence with peo- pie in Russia who informed him the hybreds between the Yak and com mon stock were much sought after that they brought higher price and were better in every way. Dr. Geor geson explained to the superintend ent that he wanted to establish a breed in Alaska as hardy as the moose. So in due time application was made to Ottowa for the nine Yak but no reply was received. La ter on, he was told that assistance would be rendered him in procuring