[hillsidehome]

Mabel is no longer available – she sold yesterday.

~Audrey

[hillsidehome]

Tim,

Yes, they do curve in already. I’d just like to curve them in more. Now, I did do some research and it seems there are 2 ways of curving horns in. Paring away the horn at the base and/or using horn clamps with a turn-buckle in the middle to tighten. I just wanted to know which was the best method and which gave the best results. Also, do I pare away the horn on the inside or outside?

Daisy does swing her head. But not in a mean manner.

Thanks, and looking forward to more replies.

[hillsidehome]

Hey all! Just ran across this thread and I was like: “Wow! I’m not the only young person out there who’s been ‘bitten by the bug’ ” – to borrow the phrase again. 🙂 It’s a good feeling. Because sometimes I get the impression that people think I’m crazy.

So…I’m a 22 year old female who bought herself a Jersey cow 3 years ago. I handmilk and have finally perfected the art of making butter, mozzarella cheese and yogurt. Currently I’m raising a steer for beef and training a heifer to be a family milker. On the side I’m learning how to scythe my field and thanks to a neighbor who just happens to be from Austria I’m getting the hang of it. I’m also growing potatoes, rutabagas, squash and mangels to supplement my cow’s feed during the winter. And as for future dreams, I really want to raise/train my own single ox. And I can safely say that I’m hooked – for life.

[hillsidehome]

Rob,

We are located near Oneonta, NY and our pony is boarding at a friend’s in Franklin. The man boarding her has 6 ponies of his own and raises/trains them for competition pulling.

You are welcome to come and see Taffy any time. Just let us know when and we will see if that works with our schedule. Most any day/time ought to work if you just want to look at her but if you want to harness and drive her we will need to coordinate with the man who boards her (I have no harness). The best times for him are evenings after 4:30 or weekends.

In my ad above I mentioned how Taffy needs a more experienced horse owner. This isn’t because she is difficult or mean tempered – it’s because my family and I are newbies with horses. When we bought Taffy we were told that she was already a farm pony but we were lied to. As my ad says she was used in competition pony pulling so she will need some training to get used to farm work if that is how you intend to use her.

Thanks for asking! We hope to meet you.

[hillsidehome]

@Justine 909 wrote:

Hey there people

Also, several people have suggested that owning a milk cow with horns is dangerous:eek:, any thoughts?

Justine,

I’ve owned a milk cow for 2, almost 3 years now, and she has horns. I think any big animal can be dangerous, regardless if they have horns or not. I’ve been stepped on enough times to know! Just teach her to respect your space and she ought to be fine. My Daisy knows that when I’m near/around her, swinging her head is unallowed. I don’t care if she does it out in the field or to a pine tree but it’s another thing when I’m standing next to her or in front of her.

I’d leave the horns. But that’s just me. I like horned cows. 🙂

[hillsidehome]

O.k. So why do you prefer the head yoke? What is the advantage of using it over a neck yoke?

I’m thinking about training my cow to work and someone told me to be very careful if I do. He said cows don’t have thick neck muscles like an ox; so to have a cow pull a load, leaning into the yoke, might damage her lymph nodes. If this is true would the head-yoke be a better choice?

~Audrey

[hillsidehome]

Thanks so much for the advice all you folks have offered! This is a really great forum.

And Fabian, your post has encouraged and inspired me to go ahead and try out my milker. I don’t know why the thought of using cows as a power source never occured to me before – maybe because it isn’t the “thing” around here. If it doesn’t work – oh well. But it’s worth a try! I already have my Daisy, already know her quirks; I have trained her with a few small things like stepping up when I say “UP”, stepping back when I say “Back”, coming when called – which works 50% of the time. 🙂 And she’s naturally curious. LOVES people and attention.

I did consider my steer, but he is still so young that if he were to take to it readily I still couldn’t use him right away for work; plus he has no horns. My cow on the other hand is already full grown and has horns.

So how did you train your cow? Do you have any other tips you’d care to share?

(By the way, your English was great!)

~Audrey

[hillsidehome]

Hey Ixy,

How are you making out with your two little Jersey steers? I know you just recently got them but what do you think about no horns? Is it easier or would you have prefered them with their horns? I’m asking because a friend of mine knows I’m looking into raising an ox and wondered if I would be interested in his 5 month old Jersey/Highland steer – but they dehorned him just like the farmer dehorned your Jerseys. 🙂 If you’ve got any pictures I’d love to see ’em!

~Audrey

[hillsidehome]

Tom,

Thanks for the advice. My steer is already halter broke and leads real nice so that is food for thought.

I do have some more questions though. Considering my small space, is an ox economical? I think the limit would be 1600 pounds – anything under that is better! Or should I look into goats as a source of draft power?

Another thing I’m unsure about is the amount of work and which animal will best fit the bill. Like I said, I live on a small homestead so the jobs aren’t major and sort of spread out. For example, if I had an animal now, I’d be using it to haul compost to our gardens, clean out brush/ junk, and other odd spring-cleaning jobs. After that I’d probably not need it to work for about a month. Come fall I’d use it to haul hay, compost, and an occasional log and till in the garden. Can you do that with an ox: not work it for a month and then put it to work? Will an ox fit that need or is it like a horse in that it needs constant, consistant exercise?

~Audrey

[Author]

Posts