[Berta]

just encountered this video while puttering around on the ‘net. lots of yak and a much hyped but unimpressive yak race.
http://www.vbs.tv/watch/the-vice-guide-to-travel/mongolian_yak_festival–2

[Berta]

–I assume a head collar is the same thing as a halter– My boys are both trained to drive from behind with lines as well as with a goad from the side. When I’m riding or if I’ll be around people and need a little extra re-enforcement, I put a small bit of chain (I have an old curb chain from a horse bit) over the nose. When I put light pressure on the lines, the chain doesn’t do much but if they don’t listen, a firm tug will pull it taught.

I haven’t tried cultivating from behind yet. The driving with lines started from riding them and I’ve been doing more this winter as I have them single when pulling my toboggan.

[Berta]

I worked with a Watusi x lineback that was a really attractive cow. Never trained her to pull but she had a good attitude.
I figure any bovine can learn to pull, up horns would be much less likely to cause trouble when hitched. I broke a team of jerseys for nothing more than the cost of equipment (made my own baby yokes) and feed. at 3 my boys are close enough to full size that they are good for a long workout and strong.
So, time to grow and regular handling. plus a few days a week for focused training. I started my team with a good bit of horse experience and a few years working around cattle so I was familiar with how they think. You probably have everything you need around the farm already.

Go for it!

[Berta]

I think this question has come up before – I’ll always be a Jersey Girl. I love the energy of my team. They are often looking for ways to make trouble, but it’s just part of the their “ooo, what is that” attitude.

[Berta]

Oh is he ever handsome in the harness.

[Berta]

huh, where I worked we had a yak steer and a Dzo (yak x dairy cow) steer.

the full yak was about the same size as your pix and he was full grown. The Dzo was a bit bigger ’cause he was half holstein.

Maybe there are different breeds or regional varieties that get big…?

[Berta]

Thinking about the rope/ring in india the first thing that comes to my mind is that a polished stainless ring is a lot more expensive than a piece of rope. Sure there might be metal rings around but likely they are rusted some and WOULD cause an infection. The choice of rope might be better than metal there because of limited access. Likely, those who might be able to aquire a smooth metal ring/pin/bit aren’t exposed to them and do not seek them out.

The benifits I see with metal over rope are twofold. (Note, I have used neither – my team get horse curb chains on their halters for going in public)

1) because the rope can fold in half, a sharp tug could put all the pressure in one very small spot – much more severe than spreading the pull over the width of the septum on a solid metal object.
2) if there is irritatin, for whatever reason, it can drain around the smooth and inert metal. A rope could absorb snot/puss/serum and develpe abrasiveness.

[Berta]

I’ve worked with cows of a few different breeds and had a weekend working with different breeds of oxen as well as my team – I’m not particularly experienced but I’m biased for jersey. I really like my team. Small, smart, willing. they will try to out think you though! I was told that Jersey are not for beginners but I think I’d be bored with holstein or swiss.

[Berta]

Boy, she’s either got short ears or really long winter fur. 🙂

[Berta]

I see the issue less of being in water and more of working in (potentially deep) mud. The idea of working from a distance appeals to me.

Would you post something more about the variety you’ll be using? I’m in Western MA and the farm I’m working on has some pretty swampy spots. If we could raise a patch of rice here, it would be a great way to make use of the wet clay soil.

‘course, we’ve already got the mud friendly oxen. 🙂

[Berta]

I worked with two waterbuffalo in central MA, they wern’t trained for draft but seemed alright with the cool winter.

Haveing worked (riding) horses in the mud and now my team of jersy steers, I’d just get a team of oxen for rice work. the spit hoof really seems to pull out easier than a single toe – no lost shoes to worry about either. that and with a yoke there is less equipment to clean at the end of the day.

EDIT:
I opened two windows, one for you post, one in oxen titled “Water buffalo”. I now realize that you aren’t actually the one looking for info on buffalo. I won’t delete this post but sorry if it doesn’t answer your question.

[Berta]

Oh my, I love it.

My boys will bounce over branches on the ground when I’m running around with them but they have no interst in moving fast enough to jump when being ridden.

[Berta]

Ooo, I’m closing in on the cutoff, will be 25 this summer.

I’m in college but I’ve been training a team of oxen at a local vegetable farm. Didn’t have any experience with oxen before, though I certianally have worked with cattle.

I was a horse person as a kid – been around them since I could walk into a paddoc on my own two feet. Up until these last few years, I only worked with riding horses. I think I still am interested in horses but more in their draft with riding as a side activity. Don’t know though, can’t afford anything as a broke Aggie student.

[Berta]

I’ve only ever drove a team of geldigs but I rode mares for years.
The geldings belonged to the man I worked for – they were the get of his favorite mare who was injured and on permanint pasture rest.

that is one plus for mares; if you really like one, you can make more from the same. Geldings are end of the line unless you are connected to the breeder.

[Berta]

I just curry my oxen before work or riding. Every few months I’ll brush out the switch and use a pair of scissors to shorten it a bit if needed. I’m not going for a fancy look, just trying to keep it closer to hock length so it gets less crap in it.

[Author]

Posts