[The yak--the Asiatic mountain cattle in science and practice]

A total of 15 million yak is indigenous to central Asia (China, Mongolia, Nepal, India and Bhutan) on an area of 220 m hectares. The animal is a six purpose cattle, including milk production, meat production, wool production, leather production, capacity for work as draught, riding and transport animals and energy production via dried manure. Moreover, anatomical and physiological peculiarities of this high mountain cattle are presented which can tolerate cold temperatures of -50 degrees C. Finally, chances and limitations of crossbreeding yaks and indigenous cattle are discussed.