Meat
Hybrid Dzo / Dzomo
A tier
Dzo (male) and dzomo (female) are hybrids of yak and domestic cattle, bred in Himalayan regions for greater size, milk, and lower-altitude tolerance than pure yak. They are central to some Nepali and Tibetan border farm systems. Hybrid meat is lean but often milder and heavier-yielding than pure yak—valued for stews and roasting when available. Sterility of male dzo shapes breeding systems; meat animals may be surplus hybrids. Flavour sits between beef and yak.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
History
Himalayan farmers systematically produced yak-cattle hybrids for work and products.
Trade accounts noted dzo as important transport and food animals.
Development projects studied hybrid performance in mid-hill agriculture.
Local markets continued to sell dzo/dzomo meat beside pure yak.