[Vicki]

My opinion from what I’ve done and seen: cattle do not require nose rings to be controlled, even by small children, when trained consistently with psychological dominance. Obviously, the person driving the cattle must have some training too, just like you need to know some important basics before you can control an automobile. Of course, nose rings “work”, but I’d rather control a bovine from “inside its head” than from pain compliance. It doesn’t hurt the cattle to have the ring, but to pull on it.

[Vicki]

Thea, thanks for sharing your cattle observations here and sparking this good discussion, and thanks to you all who have great contributions on this thread.

Ducks are very “smart” and do learn many habits, and I have seen “grieving” behavior from mine. I bought a young bull calf that cried unconsolably for its mother until it went hoarse for many days, and he never seemd to bond with any other cattle.

Thanks for your encouragement to “spread my common sense”, Domanique. I’m on a speakers bureau for animal ag in response to my state being targeted by HSUS for sweeping regulation, with long-term goal to eliminate it altogether.

[Vicki]

I’m wise enough not to presume to speak for Patrick, but I think I understand that he is sounding a warning, a warning I will take to heart. Patrick brings up important and relevant issues.
First, he states that the behaviors we observe can be understood as instincual responses not having the same sentient, spiritual significance as the human emotion of grief. Historically, Americans have believed that humans are distinct from animals, having value, moral capacity, and emotions that animals do not.
Then, he reminds us that activists with worldviews that are, in the West, historically “new” and probably different from ours, are shaping the public discussion and regulatory policies of animal welfare and agriculture. He (and I) are concerned that such observations are exploited for activist agendas that we would probably not support, and that they can be because of ignorance of the larger pop culture which has lost context of understanding animal stewardship, animal agriculture, and their necessity in ecology and human survival.
I don’t think Patrick wants us to stop discussing our observations, but if he means let’s be aware of exploitation therefore wise and discreet in describing them, and discern underlying value systems in discussions, I take his point.
We who raise, work, and eat animals should be observing them, learning about them, and taking responsibility for the stewardship we practice.
I’m humbled to look an animal in the eye and know I can decide to kill it. I believe I will answer to a higher authority–even higher than HSUS! (that’s a little brevity to lighten the discussion) for how I treat it.
Those of us who raise, work, or eat animals that we look in the eye know that is in our best interest to keep them the healthiest and “happiest” possible. We work with their natures and instincts and not against them. This is a logic and a truth the general public must hear if we want animal draft and husbandry to be allowed to continue.
OK I’m putting on the kevlar now. . .

[Vicki]

Sap buckets on trees, steam billowing out of sugarhouses. My domestic ducks begin to lay again. Yes, redwing blackbirds! When the first flicker is sighted, it’s well into spring. Bluebirds and wrens and field sparrows are active around the birdhouses. Black hair gets all over me, even in my mouth–phooey! because the Dexters are shedding; I long for it to warm enough to clip them. Soon skunk cabbage begins to poke through the swampy places, then ramps will cover the woods and we’ll smell onions whenever we work in them.

[Vicki]

Tillers recreated an authentic Red River oxcart in 2005 and may have a paper and plans on it.

[Vicki]

RH Summer 2003. Single dump cart. Could be modified for tongue I’d think.

[Vicki]

Rural Heritage mag had plans for a cart, the prototype found in Alberta. Nice. See if you can locate the back issue with it.

[Vicki]

Some of Howie’s other (young) proteges had steers do this at fairs we used to compete in together, and it inspired me to the challenge.

Here’s what I did:
First, each of mine learned set in and set out before anything else and they’re very responsive to that. Next, after mastering basics in the yoke, I taught them to pivot, “gee off” and “haw to.” To teach pivot, use a pole or cart and face them up against a wall or fence. I heard someone suggest putting a cart wheel into a tire to help hold them from forward movement when teaching pivot.

Practicing for a very tight course in log pull and stoneboat competitions, where we were up against Howie and other much better drovers, got the steers and I very good at pivoting with a chain. We also backed up turning and I taught them to pivot from behind using the set in/set out commands.

Those were the foundation skills that made side-stepping pretty easy for us. They were already 3 yrs. when I added it. I taught each individually before making them do it yoked. Face a wall or fence, command set out (or set in to the off) then immediately haw to. I used a lash, tapping side of tail head then side of neck–works for me. May take a while for them to figure out what you want; they’ll probably try to move forward. Correct patiently, praise for performance, don’t get them frustrated, have them perform some known commands if they act frustrated, then try again. After a few minutes my steers got it. Had to repeat often to reinforce, and they don’t do it instantly if we haven’t done it lately.
Then they’re ready to try it yoked. I use the goad to the tail head and neck to cue them for side step. To this day, side-stepping away is not as good as toward me, but we don’t practice it much.
Hope this helps. Wordy, I know. . .

[Vicki]

My land in northern Ohio is like Erik’s. A clay hardpan in rather level bottom land creates vernal pools and perched water table, so moving on the land in spring causes compaction, turf destriction, mud, and ruts.

You should consider native willows as well as or in place of weeping willows. They will root easily from cuttings. Native willows are necessary for several butterfly species and will create habitat for other birds and critters too. Maybe ask your regional naturalists a through state conservation agencies, and soil and water conservation agency.

[Vicki]

I appreciate the points Rod makes in his opening post of this thread. I will copy that list and glance at it from time to time to check myself, especially #5 and #6. Great suggestion from Erika too.

I sometimes feel misunderstood, scolded, and that people are not careful in reading what I say or don’t say, (thus want to justify or explain myself) and obviously-comes the dawn-I do just that to others! Probably I sense something in some posts that isn’t intended and I am very literal about the meanings of words.

[Vicki]

Thank you for the info, Sanhester and Fabian. I’ve seen each of these before in pictures and articles, but never in action. Where on the Austrian yoke does one hitch?

[Vicki]

Great pics! Thanks.
My friend who recreated travel on portions of the Oregon and Bozeman Trails used wooden shoes in emergencies.
I don’t know how to attach the pic so I’ve posted it in the gallery.

[Vicki]

Ox hames? Used with padding?

[Vicki]

I have no experience nor observation of Cuban or Chilean head yokes so I have no opinion or comments on them. Sorry to annoy you to speak about Nova Scotia head yokes [ones that have horn boxes carved out I did say] and American neck yokes; that is all I can comment about.

My ramblings were exploring pros and cons of those styles and some of the relationship between history, context, and culture and any yoke systems–writing down “anything I could think of” assuming it would “help the conversation.” I do contend that context, type of work, culture, available material, and even animal breed can all influence which system is “better” or less advantageous in a specific situation.

I do not advocate one system over another. But there are pros and cons of each.

I would like someday to see the Cuban, Central American and South American yoking and oxen.

I am interested in what, if any, adaptations or adjustments are used with the Cuban/South American yokes to adjust angle of draft, like for a plow vs. for a cart. Or is this not an issue with head yokes?

[Vicki]

Great aspirations, Sam! Allow me to suggest that you check into classes at Tillers International near Kalamazoo, MI. You may also look into apprenticing and into internships. Both Tillers and Howell Living History Farm in New Jersey offer internship programs.

[Author]

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