The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-01-27

A correspondent asks why oxen are
not more frequently used in the West.
We can not say, except that for general
work the animal is too slow. But they
might be used more generally than they
are, with excellent profit. In some por-
tons 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 cam
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 plow the OK will
do as much us many farm horses. and
i'll many other places on the farm it will
fit as well US the horse. But if it is
admitted that they are altogether infe-
rior to the horse, their cost would large
ly Offset the advantage. 1t 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 CAD,
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-
lutte 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 a hurry until they begin to drive an
animal. Then if things do not move
along like a 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 u yoke, especially if they
have no interest in the OK; and if the
animal was not the picture of docihty-
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 CAD, especially
requires kindness and 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
stubborn OK team. They are very
willing and faithful workers, and that
trait is to be wondered at while the VIC
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
greatas 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 OK fol
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.
1t 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,
1t will be fun for the boys to do the
training, if they take any interest in
such matters. 1t is not always practi-
cable to IL 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 more unmanage-
able and may do themselves or their at
PENDANTS 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, ands 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 IA 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. 1t
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 they 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.
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
rs to the use of the whip or CAD will
answer If he reduces the uSe TO a Svs-