Yak bars - are they all the same?

Yaks are well suited to their environment in the Himalayas, high altitude and challenging weather and conditions mean the yaks produce a much different milk than cows.  It has a higher protein and calcium content to suit their robust physiology, and a  higher fat content - consisting of higher omega fats such as DHA which are crucial for brain development and nervous system maintenance.  This produces a tangier, ‘goaty’ flavour that dogs really enjoy - ensuring they maintain interest in a chew that is beneficial to their health and nutritional intake.

Yak bars have become a popular long-lasting chew, originally they were from Himalayan dairies with small herds of yaks. As popularity soared the dairies have struggled to keep up with demand - there is only so much land the yaks can graze on, and as yaks have not had hundreds of years of commercial breeding, like dairy cows have, their milk yields are much lower.  This means yak milk is often topped up with cow’s milk.  The recipe calls for cow’s milk, to get the right balance for the curing process, however demand has seen the quantity of cow’s milk exceed that of yak milk - not for nutritional purposes, but driven by commercial need as bigger brands emerged.

Our yak bars have between 60-70% yak milk, much higher than the >30% seen in the higher quality yak bars.  Watch out for ingredient labelling such as ‘yak and cow’s milk’ which often indicates a lower quality yak bar.  Curing by air drying can take weeks, it is a crucial part of the production of yak bars as it reduces the water content and thereby increases nutritional density of the bar, to speed up production some yak bar producers use chemical drying processes, which can impact nutritional qualities and thereby increases flavour of the bar.  

We hear so many people tell us their dog has ‘gone off’ yak bars - it could be these changes that a driving a reduction in interest in your companion.  

We will always stock yak bars and puffs from suppliers we trust, who share our values and produce quality yak bars your doggo will love