importing mysql data

Is there anyway to import data using mysqldump rather than fixtures during a test (rake test:profile in this case).

I have not been successful in exporting mysql data in yml format (which works ok) and importing it into rails (doesn't work, rake task complains about formatting of the yml file whose integrity seems intact).

What are some other days to export/import data with or without fixtures?

How are you doing this export/import? I've had good luck in the past with the yaml_db gem.