what would be the best breed to start with?

[countryboy]

i’m 13 and have never worked with oxen and i would like to know what the best breed to start out with would be.

[mother katherine]

Depending on what’s available in your area. Brown Swiss are supposed to be slow and easy going and a good first team. Holsteins are pretty mild and usually plentiful and cheap.
oxnun

[mother katherine]

It’s me again.
I just noticed you want Jerseys. The farmer I mentioned earlier has or had some Jersey cross calves. I’ll check to see who he’s using as a sire. I got 4 calves from him out of the same black Jersey sire. They’re handsome, smart and willing. You could have one one who’s about 3 or 4 months now. I haven’t worked with him a lot, I think he’d come along all right.
It’s fun to start them as little ones, though.
oxnun

[bivol]

holsteins are big strong, docile and cheap, but they have light (read soft) hooves, and they can pose problems after they react their full size or age…
brown swiss are big strong docile, have dark (read hard) hooves, but are slow and “poky”, whatever that means…

maybe a cross would work best if you could find them.
holstein-jersey cross milds the jersey’s temperament and the calves are larger.
they also have dark hooves
this cross can be found when diary farmers want cows who give more fat milk.
crossing also adds hybrid vigour, making your future oxen tougher, but temperament is also harder to predict (although if they remotely match each others in temperament and are trained young, temper shouldn’t be an issue).

[Vicki]

My mentor Howie says, “The best breed for you is the breed you like and want.” A lot of wisdom is in that statement. Because if you like the calves, you will spend time with them and they will know that you like them and both those factors will be good for success in training.

I started with Dexters which can be quite challenging for beginners, but we have been very successful and I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

We did try American Milking Devons, from baby calves, but I found them aloof and independent, not necessarily disrepectful or difficult, but simply too aloof for my preference. I’ve trained Swiss, and found them too slow and slow learners for my preference. I had a single bottle baby Jersey and he was fine: learned pretty quickly, very “friendly”, his pace matched mine well.

How big do you want them to be eventually? Beef crosses are nice I think but finding horns can be difficult.

[Howie]

Everybody has his own thoughts as to what is best.
I think for the money spent a calf out of a Holstein cow and a Jersey bull is about the best, out of a Devon bull would be better but hard to find and a lot more money.
Holstein makes a pretty good ox Jersey makes a not so good ox but cross them and they make a very good ox.:p

[mother katherine]

Thanks, Howie. I would dearly like to meet you sometime. I’ve lots about you – all good.
If you ever get to Singletarys’ again for calves, let me know; we’re only 30 minutes away.
I know a guy who can tell me where to get a Devon/Holstein cross in our area. Of course, I could get pure Devons from Singletarys.
oxnun

[Nat(wasIxy)]

I wouldn’t ever recommend dexters to a newcomer, we have 40 of the things and they’re nutters. Luckily the bulls are good-tempered though, but we specifically breed for that. We have one yong bull right now who is a bit pushy – he’ll be burgers come december.

My SimmentalX has a kind nature, and our Herefords over here are very docile – I can’t wait to try one as an ox.

Everybody says brown swiss are a bit dopey, but mine was very quick, mind and body! A bit too quick…hence the burger decision…

[Author]

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