heifers?

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  • January 2, 2010 at 12:51 am #41259
    drafthossluvr
    Participant

    Hi, I am new to oxen/cattle, so everyone will have to bear with me for a while before I get this all figured out;) I am wondering can you use heifers as oxen? You know, to train to pull logs etc…? I was told that you couldn’t because of thier udders, they may step on them or damage them. Also, what would you say is more “gentle”, a steer or a heifer? Thanks:)

    January 2, 2010 at 3:19 am #56657
    Howie
    Participant

    Heifers make fine working cattle, BUT they are females.;)
    If you are going to raise them to primarily work them then you want steers, they will have a lot less problems.:(
    If you want to raise a couple of calves and have a pair of cattle for light work, even in the woods, a pair of cows are fine.:)
    You can control the size of the udder.:o

    January 2, 2010 at 11:18 am #56658
    fabian
    Participant

    @Howie 14102 wrote:

    Heifers make fine working cattle, BUT they are females.;)

    So it is !
    I do not have enough experience with steers because I had up to now only one I worked with and the pair I now begin to train is to green for saying something about their behaviors. But I have enough experience with cows and heifers that I can say they can be very bitchy sometimes, even when in heat. As Howie said: They are females ! 😉

    January 3, 2010 at 12:12 am #56659
    drafthossluvr
    Participant

    hahaha, so just like us human females then!;) i have plans on going with steers, i’d rather have an even tempered one to start out with and that was my original plan anyways. Thanks!!

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