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Dzo Facts

Dzo Facts
Dzo is large bovid created via cross-breeding of yak with domestic cattle in Tibet. Both yaks and dzos are often kept as farm animals in Tibet and Mongolia today and they can be frequently seen on the pastures in the mountains in these areas. Dzo inherited best of both parents. It is strong, productive (in terms of meat and milk) animal that doesn't increase farming expenses. Thanks to the ability to perform various tasks, popularity and number of dzos in Asia is on the constant rise.
Interesting Dzo Facts:
Dzo can reach 5.5 feet in height and up to 1.300 pounds of weight. Males are larger than females.
Dzo is covered with long, shaggy coat (that is typical for yak) in the shades of white, brown and black.
Dzo has cattle-like face with large horns. It has hump on the back and large, sturdy body.
Yak has been domesticated few thousand years ago. According to the Chinese literature, it has been used for creating of new types of cattle (by mixing with domestic cattle) in the past 2,000 years.
Male dzo is sterile, while female, called dzomo, is fertile. Dzomo is used for the production of new generations of dzos by mixing with purebred yak or cattle.
In some areas, dzo is also known as yakow, because it was created by mixing the yak with cow.
Dzo is herbivore that doesn't require any additional supplements aside from grass, lichen and other plants that are normally consumed.
Dzo is often larger than both of its parents and able to survive on the altitude of more than 10.000 feet.
Dzo is more agile and sure-footed than yak and able to navigate across the rough mountain terrains with low percentage of oxygen in the air with ease.
Dzo has low pulmonary artery pressure which prevents pulmonary hypertension when this animal inhales thin (rarefied) air on the high altitudes. Only few animals have this trait.
Dzo is primarily used as pack animal by local farmers and traders. Its main purpose is to carry heavy loads across the mountain passes and to support tracking and hiking expeditions to the Mount Everest. Dzo is able to carry around 300 pounds of weight.
Dzo is also used as working animal on the farms.
Dzo is often kept on the farms as a source of meat and milk. It produces more milk compared with yak. Milk is used both for drinking and for the manufacture of cheese and butter.
Dzo also represents valuable source of hide and fiber. Soft fibers in the shades of white, brown and black are spun into yarn that is used for knitting.
Dried droppings of dzo are used as a source of fuel.


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