Many farm boys had calves they would yoke and play with. These young teams would often become replacements for the older teams. Oxen are still prevalent in New England at local fairs, in pulling contests, at 4H shows, and in some woodlots. Oxen in New England are more of a hobby than a necessity. However, some people still use oxen to log commercially or to do farm work that would otherwise require a tractor.
Oxen are still very common as work animals in other parts of the world.
In third world countries where most of the human population is engaged in the direct production of food, oxen often provide the only power available to plant, cultivate, and harvest crops. Half the world's population is engaged in this type of food production and cattle are kept only for draft and milking purposes. Four out of every ten cattle in the world are kept primarily as draft animals, with most of these being located in Africa and Asia.