Tibetan yaks are heavily built animals with bulky frames, sturdy legs, rounded cloven hooves, and extremely dense, long fur that often hangs below the belly. They have small ears, broad foreheads, and both sexes grow smooth, usually dark-colored horns. In males, or bulls, the horns sweep outward from the sides of the head before curving backward.

Both sexes have short necks with a pronounced hump over the shoulders, though it is larger and more visible in males. Their tails are long and horse-like rather than tufted, as seen in cattle or bison.

Domesticated yaks come in a wide range of coat colors, including white, gray, brown, roan, and piebald. Adult males can weigh between 772 and 1,290 pounds, while females typically weigh 496 to 562 pounds. Their gestation period lasts between 257 and 270 days, similar to humans.

Beyond their striking appearance, yaks are also valued for their meat. 

“They have a flavor that I feel is between bison and elk, and very tender; much easier to chew than other bovine,” said Shawn Davis. 

Davis and his wife, Terry, own a small herd located just off Montana 135, a few miles outside of St. Regis. Their 12-acre property is known as Tamarack Yak Ranch.

The couple relocated from Charlo to their current location in early November. 

“Our kids live here, and we’ve always liked to recreate in this area, so we made the move,” Davis said. 

Shawn is a caricature artist, while Terry is a fiber artist whose work is featured at the Sandpiper Gift Shop in Polson. Together, they attend festivals and farmers markets to showcase their art.

In addition to yaks, the Davises raise Kunekune pigs from New Zealand. The breed has deep roots in Māori culture and is known for its potbellied appearance and small wattles on the lower cheeks. 

“These are high-end pork pigs, getting up to 300 pounds, though most are around 200,” Davis said. “High-quality meat and good lard pigs.” 

They also keep a pair of vocal, exotic geese for eggs, all as part of a sustainable, family-focused operation protected by two Great Pyrenees dogs.

Davis previously worked on cattle ranches in the Mission Valley but became more deeply involved in agriculture, particularly yaks, around 2020, when the pandemic hit. 

“There’s a guy in Pablo who’s raised them for years and sold us our first one,” he said. “They usually go for around $3,000 a head, but he gave us a deal. The mother had pneumonia and wasn’t going to make it, and he didn’t want to bottle-feed the calf. We got a good price and have grown the herd since.”

Compared to cattle, yaks require less feed and do not grow as large. 

“They don’t eat as much. Right now, they’re being fed grass hay we found in Ronan,” Davis said. “They’re really docile animals. If a stranger went in there, they might false-charge, but if you put your hands up, that should stop them, at least, I hope,” he added with a grin.

Unlike cattle, yaks do not produce the familiar lowing “moo.” Instead, both wild and domesticated yaks communicate through grunts and squeaks. “They don’t make much noise,” Davis said. “The loudest they get might be a ‘meh.’”

Terry Davis, a fiber artist, began her work using sheep’s wool and now incorporates yak fiber into her art. 

“I do needle felting and wet felting and use their fiber,” she said. “I sold most of my art in Charlo before moving, but now we’re planning to open a small shop here once I have more pieces ready. I do have some work at Moxie in St. Regis right now.”

Looking ahead, the couple hopes to expand their offerings. “We like to host campers in the spring and summer, so we’ll have an area set up for that,” Terry said, pointing toward Larch Lane, which intersects with Montana 135. 

As a personal trainer, Shawn is also considering opening a small office next to their future retail shop.

    Shawn Davis with the full yak herd as they added some critters from an animal rescue organization in Wilsall. (Monte Turner/Mineral Independent)