Can a yak live in South Carolina?

Answer 1

Surprisingly yes, it is possible. There are a few yak farms/ranches in North Carolina, and yaks are raised as far south as South Texas. The myth that they will "burn up" due to all that hair--the same myth applied to domestic cattle breeds of Galloway or Highland--is just that because animals can adapt to even a hotter-than-normal climate. They can and will slick down well (yaks can and do shed their thick coats), and are also adapted to thrive in temperature extremes, from the very cold to the very warm, which is what they are commonly subjected to in their native home of Tibet and Mongolia.

However, these animals are not adapted to long periods of hot, humid weather that maybe slightly more common in South Carolina than North Carolina, and need shelter and shady, cool areas to go to during such periods. If you're looking for exotic livestock to raise, water buffalo are a good alternative to yaks in more hot and humid climates.