ox/cow teams

[sanhestar]

Hi,

I just came across an old picture of an ox/cow team

http://www.modaox.us/tell_me_more_about_oxen

I was wondering about the height difference and how the yoke would “level” that.

Sabine

[Howie]

Sabine
As you know working cattle will adapt to what ever is needed.:( I have a few yokes around here that were made for odd cattle but if they are going to just do lite work use what you have.
If you are going to use a miss matched team you should build a yoke to match each ox, to get the most out off them. It is not that much of a problem to put a different size bow on each end and even tip the neck seat.
I have miss matched legs and feet. To work I have to wear shoes that don’t match.:eek::eek:

[fabian]

my experience is that the difference in the height is no problem. Bella is 1,38m and Molly was, when I started her about 1,20m.
I made the experience that in draft the necks of the animals are nearly on the same level.
besides: when it would be a problem: how should a same-size team plow a field ? one ox is in the furrow and the other is on higher level on unplowed land.

[Howie]

:(Fabian

Put the tall one in the furrow:rolleyes:same as I walk with the long leg in the furrow.:o

[sanhestar]

Howie,

if I understand your post correctly, the main thing would be to adjust the neck seat not only for the width of the neck but also for the angle, the yoke is in – wow, couldn’t even ask this question proper in German, much less in English – do you know what I mean?

Question for the ones that drive with collars or forehead yokes: how about using a miss matched team with this type of harnessing? Different length of chains, I think.

[Howie]

If you are going to use a miss matched team it would easier, most of the time, to just use single yokes and an evener. This way they do not need to be even close to the same size.:confused::confused:

[fabian]

@sanhestar 5743 wrote:

Question for the ones that drive with collars or forehead yokes: how about using a miss matched team with this type of harnessing? Different length of chains, I think.

Why different length of chains ?
With similar chains the heads of the team are at the same place. only the rear ends are in different position (shorter/longer). but the important part is the placement of the heads.

Wolfgang

[sanhestar]

Wolfgang,

could you elaborate what you mean with position of the heads (if you want and if it’s easier for you to explain per pm in German, I can translate it for the others then)?

[Author]

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