American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-02-21
Breaking Steers.


THERE has been great deal of unneces-
sary talk, first and last, on the subject of
educating animals to work. That it is
profitable and proper to treat all farm
animals with kindness is evident; and
that they must be made to understand
that obedience is imperative with them, is
just as true. Our experience is that, with
calves or colts, harness training other than
that they be made to stand quietly when
tied, is not only detrimental, but decided
ly injurious to the future usefulness. The
reason is patent. Unless, after breaking,
the animal is used sufficiently to keep it
waywise, the labor is worse than thrown
away.
OF late years, the working of cattle has
been too much neglected, and, as a conse-
quence, good, well broken oxen are rela-
lively much higher than horses. Many
farmers, however are again turning their
attention to this branch of farm economy,
and they will undoubtedly find it amply
remunerative. since oxen will not only do
certain kinds of labor about the farm
more economically than horses, but will
also sell readily at any time, as working
cattle and be valuable for beef when no
longer good for labor.
The usual way of breaking steers in the
West is to take them at three or four
years of age, yoke them together, some
/ tillCS vi loui NOhcy anu putting
steady pair of we'll broken cattle behind,
and another equally we'll broken pair as
leaders, put them at any required labor as
logging, hauling loads, breaking prairie,
trench blowing, or other work requiring
heavy draught. They soon become way
wise, and work quietly, but are never so
thoroughly broken by this means to work
singly as they would have been if proper
ly trained are horses.
To break cattle nrOperly thew ShOuld
first of all be taught to lead quietly at the
end of halter, to stand, come forward, or
back at the word of command. They
should then be yoked together. and i'm
mediately thereafter fed something they
like and be allowed to wander at will
over the yard. When they get used to
the yoke, take the halter of the near OK,
and, with light whip, guide them about
the yard, touching the off steer lightly on
on the off flank or bullock, and, at the
same time, indicating with the halter
what you want to the near steer, calling
the name of the off beast when you touch
him, as "Haw, Buck" SO with the near
one as "Haw, Bright" Nothing more nor
less. So, if you want them to turn to the
right the off animal should be tapped
lightly over the face with the word, "Gee,
Buck" Immediately followed with a
touch on the flank of the near OK, with
the word "Gee, Bright" This must be
persevered in, firmly but without harsh
ness, until the steers understand what
you wish.
If you want them to back, stand at the
shoulder of the near OK, and, tapping
them alternately over the head, use the
word Back" calling at the same time
their names. If they are required to go
straight ahead, allow them to proceed
quietly. If one lags back, he must be
tapped on the back or rump until he
comes forward, with the word, "Get up"
"GO on" or whatever other short words
are to be used-always, however, using
the same words. If one of the cattle is
eager, he must be tapped over the face, for
obedience must be imperatively inforced,
but never harshly. If whipping is ever
necessary, it is not while the animals
know but little, if anything, of what you
want.
/ When your steers are somewhat handy,
they may be hitched to light sled and
taken on to road or field, where they
may be exercised; afterward they may be
put to a wagon and driven to light loads,
always being careful not to give them so
much that they cannot draw or back it
anywhere. They must be accustomed to
quick pace, for as they are trained so
will they always hold Indeed, if of
proper breed, and if fed OATS they are ca
! pable of a speed, for short distances, of
seven and eight miles per hour.
A more easy way of breaking them,
and well adapted to ordinary circumstan-
ces, is after sufficient training to some
what gentle them, to place them behind q
/ thoroughly trained fast-walking pair of
cattle, and use them daily for any of the
, ordinary winter work, as hauling hay,
, fodder, wood, etc They may soon be
, placed on the lead, and, if there are two
or three pairs of steers to be broken, they
may be used thus alternately, and during
, a winters work they will become thor
oughly broken and tractable except that
as single cattle they will not work so
. promptly in turning to the right and left :;
| and, especially, they will not be broken
, to back promptly at the word. This can
only be accomplished by taking the pairs
. singly, and educating them specially
thereto. They will soon learn to obey as
far as they can hear the drivers voice.
By this plan of training, any farmer may
have cattle far more safe and tractable
than the ordinary farm Western
: Rural.