Yushu Yak [Qinghai Yushu Specialty]

What is Yushu yak? Authentic Qinghai Yushu specialty: Yushu yak

Content summary:Do you want to know what Yushu yak is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product of Yushu, Qinghai Province - Yushu Yak. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information about Yushu Yak. The full text takes about 11 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Yushu Yak and the product characteristics of Yushu Yak? Wait

Basic Introduction of Yushu Yak

Qinghai is one of the five major pastoral areas in China and the main production area of yaks. The number of yaks accounts for about 35% of the total number of yaks in the country, and it is known as the "World Yak Capital".

. The number of yaks in Yushu accounts for one-third of the total number of yaks in Qinghai. Yaks are the most traditional and important pillar of animal husbandry in Yushu. Yushu was once a land for the Western Qiang yaks, and with the advantages of high-altitude and pollution-free grasslands, the "boat of the plateau" nurtured by this soil and water has also attracted market and industry attention for its excellent quality

Production Performance

1. Meat Production Performance According to measurements taken in December 1980, the average body weight of 12 adult castrated yaks was 373.6 ± 32.8kg, with a slaughter rate of 53.0% and a net meat rate of 42.5%

2. According to the measurement of lactation performance (excluding calf feeding amount), the average daily milk production of first-time female yaks is 0.68-1kg; The multiparous female yak weighs 1.38-1.70kg. The lactation period is generally around 150 days, with an annual milk production of 274kg and a milk fat percentage of 6.37% to 7.2%

3. Hair production performance: once a year, the annual hair production of adult yaks is 1.17-2.62kg; Young cattle weigh 1.30-1.35kg, with half being coarse fur (skirt fur) and half being fine fur. The diameter of coarse hair is 64.8-72.9um, the diameter of two types of hair is 34.8-39um, and the diameter of fluff is 16.8-20.3um; The coarse hair length is 18.3-34cm, and the fuzzy hair length is 4.7-5.5cm

4. The performance of castrated yaks is mainly for use in labor, mainly for carrying, but also for riding and carrying. Generally carrying 50-100kg of cargo, traveling 20-35km per day, and able to walk continuously for more than 15 days; The maximum pack weight is 304.0 ± 75.9kg, which is equivalent to 78.8% of the average body weight, and the highest can reach 115.8%. Used for riding, single ride daily travel of 30-40km. 500m riding speed from 1 minute 43 seconds to 2 minutes 50 seconds. After running for 15-31 minutes, the physiological condition can return to normal

Adaptability

It can adapt to an ecological environment with an altitude of 3200-4800m, atmospheric pressure of 68420.85-55435.28Pa, oxygen partial pressure of 14505.43~11679.01Pa, and oxygen content of 14.9%~11.44%. Its chest is well-developed, and its cardiorespiratory development index is high, with a cardiorespiratory index of 0.45-0.63 and a pulmonary index of 0.96-1.40. In cold seasons, yaks have dense and thick fur growing on the underside of their chest and at the base of their thick hair to protect their internal organs, external reproductive organs, breasts, and joints from freezing. According to measurements, grazing for 9.5 hours per day on a grassland at an altitude of 3800m, yaks consume 27.86 ± 1.42kg of fresh grass per day. In the season of grass shortage, using its long and flexible tongue, it licks on shrubs, fallen leaves, roots, and short grass residue in the concave area. It is extremely resistant to hardship and has limbs suitable for climbing and a hard horseshoe like hoof shell, making it easy to climb anywhere

Regional Scope

The geographical indication of Yushu yak is located in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, at the source of the Three Rivers in the southwestern Qinghai Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of over 4200 meters. Yushu means "ruins" in Tibetan. The geographical location is roughly between 89 ° 27 ′ -97 ° 39 ′ E and 31 ° 45 ′ -36 ° 10 ′ N. It is connected to Haixi Mongolian and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the north, Bayingolin Autonomous Prefecture in Xinjiang in the northwest, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the east, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province in the southeast, and Changdu and Naqu Special Districts in Xizang in the southwest. The autonomous prefecture is 738 kilometers long from east to west and 406 kilometers wide from north to south, with a total land area of 203000 square kilometers, accounting for 28.2% of the province's total area. It currently governs 1 city and 5 counties, including Yushu, Chengduo, Nangqian, Zaduo, Zhiduo, and Qumalai, with a total of 10 towns and 35 townships, and raises over 2.6 million Yushu yaks

1. Appearance features:

(1) Large body size, adult male and female yaks are 7 and 10cm taller than those around the lake

(2) Large body weight, with adult male and female yaks weighing more than 100 and 30 kg higher than those around the lake

(3) The head is large, the horns are thick, the skin is loose, the shape is rough, the front body is well-developed, the rear drive is poor, the carapace is high, wide and long, the tail is short and has fluffy long hair, the front limbs are short and straight, the hind limbs are knife shaped, and the lower abdomen is thick and long hair according to physical measurements. The length of the male yak's skirt hair is 14.57cm, and the average length of the cow's skirt hair is 14.57cm

(4) Short hairs around the dorsal line, lips, and eye sockets are mostly gray white or dirty white. The majority of fur colors are black brown, accounting for 71.55%, chestnut brown accounting for 5.47%, in addition to yellow brown, gray flowers, and white

(5) Early growth is fast, with high slaughter rate and net meat yield. Yushu yaks grow in high-altitude areas above 4000 meters for a long time, and are produced and managed through traditional nomadic grazing methods. Their body muscles are glossy and smooth, with a deep red color and light yellow fat. The muscle fibers are clear and tough, with obvious marble patterns, good elasticity, moist appearance, non stick to the hands, and no odor

2. Internal quality indicators: Yushu yak meat is rich in amino acids, complete in variety, of excellent quality, moderate in intramuscular fat content, and has a higher content of unsaturated fatty acids than saturated fatty acids; The high content of glutamic acid in Yushu yak meat indicates that by adopting appropriate processing methods, Yushu yak meat can obtain delicious yak meat products, providing people with high-quality, safe, and diverse types of yak meat products. The fat content of Yushu yak is 32.73% higher than that of Huanhu yak; The iron content of Yushu yak is 62.42% higher than that of Huanhu yak; The total fatty acid content of Yushu yak is 2.12g/100g, which is 0.61g/100g higher than that of Huanhu yak. The saturated fatty acid content of Yushu yak is 0.94g/100g, which is 0.18g/100g higher than that of Huanhu yak. The unsaturated fatty acid content of Yushu yak is 1.18g/100g, which is 0.43g/100g higher than that of Huanhu yak. Among them, the essential fatty acids such as linoleic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid in Yushu yak meat are significantly higher than those in Huanhu yak. Overall, Yushu yak meat has the characteristics of rich flavor and rich nutrition, with high fat content, unsaturated fatty acid and essential fatty acid content, and high iron content compared to neighboring lake surrounding yak meat

III. Safety requirements: The environmental quality, beef and products of Yushu yak production area meet the requirements of relevant national standards