The Arizona sentinel., 1886-01-30
USEFULNESS OF OXEN.
Why Oxen Might Be Used More Generally
 With Excellent Profit.

work the animal is too slow. But they might be used more generally than they are, with excellent profit. In some DOT tions of the country the oX's usefulness is still estimated at its proper worth, and he is made to earn his living. But, generally speaking, in the West he is either thought to be too slow, or is re- garded as the philanthropiSt regards the Indian, as too good to work. We can not, it is true, say much in praise of his speed, but we think we can safely say that in the field he will get along with as much speed as avast number of our horse teams will. To blow the OK will do as much as many farm horses, and in many other places on the farm it will fit as well as the horse. But if it is admitted that they are altogether infe- rior to the horse, their cost would large ly offset the advantage. It costs but little to keep the OK, and all that is necessary to supply him with the means for making himself useful is in- expensive. A yoke and whip or gad, are all the harness he needs. and he does not need near as much of the latter as he sometimes gets. In fact, the abso- lute abuse of working oxen greatly les sens their efficiency. Comparatively few of them are handled as they should be handled, and generally they receive no care at all. They are slow of mo- ton, and it has probably been noticed by everybody that some men never get in hurry until they begin to drive an animal. Then if things do not move along like flash of lightning, they be- come angry, begin to swear and to abuse the beast that is at their mercy. Such men always have dreadful time with the OK under yoke, especially if they . have no interest in the OK; and if the animal was not the picture of docilitv- which is one of the characteristics which recommends him as working animal he would make it his special business to hook the daylights out of many driver just as soon as his yoke was off No animal can do as good work under abuse as it can if treated kindly. The OK being guided wholly by the word of mouth and the whip or gad, especially requires kindness and a reasonable amount of patience on the part of the driver. Excite him and he will do wrong because he is confused. But if he understands what is required of him he will readily comply with any demand. We have heard of stubborn oxen, but it is due to them to say that we never saw a stubborn OK team. They are very willing and faithful workers, and that trait is to be wondered at while the vlc- tins of so much brutality and bad driv- ing. The care that should be accorded to this animal when he is through his work, is under no circumstances as great as horse requires, but it will pay to give him some care. He will do bet ter work and do it with less fatigue. He should be sheltered, well fed, and even grooming will do him no harm we can be assured.
 1t costs nothing extra to rear an oXtol work. One objection often urged against oxen, is that the farmer must keep horses for driving and for other work for which the OK is not fitted, and, therefore, they might as well be made to do the work which the OK might just as well do. The same kind of argument would place the OK under yoke. We feed steers for profit, and to the extent that we can make them useful and pay their way we ought to raise them. Having them, then, we might as well use them. It requires no special treatment to raise an OK for work. They require, while calves, the same food that other young cattle require After they have reached the age of six months their training may be commenced, and that will not be found very difficult. Obtain a small yoke and accustom them to wearing it. It will be fun for the boys to do the training, if they take any interest in such matters. It is not always practi- cable to farmer to begin the training at this age, but, like colts, they are more readily trained when young than when they have obtained considerable age, at which time they are moro unmanaoe- able and may do themselves or their at tendants injury while being trained.
 After reaching the age of three years they should not be trained to work But up to that age they may be. When they have reached the age of two years, and training is desirable the first thing to do is to make them gentle. Tie them side by side, and let them stand together in this way, until they become perfectly accustomed to each other in that position. Accustom them to the yoke by placing it upon them while in the stall. When there are oxen on the farm that are already broken, it is good plan to yoke one of the un- broken oxen with one that is broken, putting them to no hard work at first and not even hitched to wagon. When they become perfectly used to the feel ing of the yoke, fasten chain to the yoke, and drive them about little It will require several weeks to get them properly trained-that is to get them to understand what is wanted of them. Professional steer breakers say that they can break yoke of green oxen in day, so that tn Y will be efficient workers Perhaps they can, but we are not writ ing for professionals; and we do not be- lieve that the thing can be done either. |
 There are no rules for driving them. l Every driver can make his own rules. | He will likely use the same words of | command that he uses to horses, and | any system which he chooses to adopt | as to the use of the whip or gad will | answer, if he reduces the use to a sys- | tenn, and gets the animal to under | stand it. The yoke should fit we'll An | OK can not do its work any better with a poorly-fitting yoke than the horse can with poor-fitting collar. Some people do not seem to think of | this. A yoke is yoke to them. But | it should fit nicely to the breast and shoulders so that the animal can exert his full strength and do it comfortably |
 As to the breeds from which to select | working oxen any of the large breeds | rryi1 DIo- IT.