How many yokes does one need…..

[sanhestar]

until one team is grown up?

I raised a similar question yesteday in the german oxen forum but thought I post it here, too, because you may have more experience with oxen in neck yokes as it is more used in the US.

How many yokes does one need from starting a team until maturity if the team is started

– as young calves (say around 8 weeks)

– as steers (6-8 months)

Being totally new to yokes I’m sitting here imagining that I will have to carve a new yoke every few months after every bigger growth spurt (and piling rarely used yokes that doesn’t fit any more).

Wolfgang mentioned in the german forum that one can use one yoke with different sized bows. What’s the margin there – how much “too big” can a yoke be without causing the oxen discomfort?

[fabian]

@sanhestar 6753 wrote:

Wolfgang mentioned in the german forum that one can use one yoke with different sized bows.

Before the Americans call me a fool:
What I say has only a validity when using Rattan bows, like I do, which have more flexibility than wooden bows !!!!!

[Carl Russell]

The simple math is if you start them in a 4″, and they grow to an 11″m then you will need 7 yokes. The reality is that when they are small, and growing fast, unless you are working them really hard you can keep a yoke a little longer by using the next sized bows. In this part of the country (world) there are many people who often have a yoke they aren’t using, so I have borrowed some at different times.
Carl

[Howie]

How many yokes you will need is determined by what you have for cattle and how you raised them.:confused:

If you have Brown Swiss/Chianinia and really push for size and power. You will start with a 5 inch yoke and need to change at least every inch. You will finish with at least a 12 and maybe a 13 or even 14 inch yoke. IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO FEED FOR THAT SIZE.:confused:

If you have a Dexter and kind of hold him back and work him easy. You could start him in a 4 inch, then put 5 inch bows in it, then go to a 6, then put in 7 inch bows. You would end up with an 8 or maybe a 7 inch yoke.:eek:

[Tim Harrigan]

The nice thing about small yokes it that they are easy to make. And once you make one you can use it for your next team. The smaller sizes might only last a few months, but as they get older they don’t grow out of them so quickly. I was looking at when my team switched yokes. They used a 5 inch up to 400 lbs; 6 inch from 400 to 600 lb; 7 inch from 600 to 900 lb; 8 inch from 900 to 1150 lbs; 9 inch from 1150 to 1400; then were in a 10 inch up to 2000. Might be a little different for other animals, a lot depends on how thick they are in the neck. How long you use a yoke will depend on what kind of animals you have and how fast you let them grow.

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