Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-12-29

While like horse team for doing
nearly all farm work believe the time
has come when more oxen could be
kept on New England farms with profit
to the owners. The advent of the NOW
ing machine probably did more TO
change the fashion from oxen to horses
on the farm than any other one thing.
The sulky plow suppose is also man,
aged more easily for the driver behind
horses than with ordinary trained oxen,
though the latter are sometimes so well
broken" that they behave as well draw
ing such implements as will ordinary
horse teams.
once knew farmer who never kept
a horse but did all his farm work with
oxen, even to the cultivating of his
cornfields. BY training both oxen to
work in single yoke he would work one
in the forenoon and the other the rest
of the day. In this way he claimed that
the two would do more work in day
than horse would be able to do. He
would lay as straight furrow with
oxen, either as pair or single, as one
could with the steadieSt pair of horses.
The only drawback to his method OF
doing his team work was that when he
had got pair we'll trained and used to
his work and ways, he diSliked To change
them for new pair, and he sometimes
kept yoke of oxen till they were doz-
en- years old. They were not then so
easily fattened, nor were they quite as
salable as would be younger animals.
But oxen are being trained these days
TO drive with lines, and even by the
common method il is wonderful how
well they can be controlled by trainers
who understand teaching animals. The
great drawback to the use of horses for
farm work is the cost of replacing them
when worn out. They are also more
subject to disease and lameneSs than
are oxen, and when no longer fit to work
their bodies are of no money value while
oxen are increasing in value rs long rs
they increase in weight from growth or
condition of fatneSS.
Since the decline of beef making on
the free pasturage of the government
lands the prospect brightens for the
eastern farmer owning good pasturage
lands or easily worked soil for growing
forage crops. If one likes dairy work
and will perfect himself in the best
methods presume cows will pay better
in milk or butter and cheese than will
steers grown especially for beef, but
pair of young oxen can do a large
amount of work on farm, provided
they are well cared for and well worked,
without injuring them in the least as
beef producers. Mr.. I. +. Fiske of New
Hampshire, whose name is familiar t"
Farmer readers, has in years past fed
great many working oxen for beef, often
selling at fancy prices during the holi-
day season, and he long ago learned that
he could could keep his cattle in better
health and have them gain faster when
worked moderately than if allowed tn
be entirely idle. Exercise is needed by
all animals in order to have good health,
and especially is this true during the
growing period. Growing animals also
pay better for the food consumed than
do those that have reached maturity.
For this reason there is more profit to
be derived from oxen if they are sold for
beef at comparatively early age.
1t used to be the custom with many
farmers to sell yoke of oxen every year
and have pair of steers coming on to
take their place. When beef brings a
paying price the work done by oxen on
a farm may really cost the owner but
very little. Ok yOkes cost much less
than horse harnesses. A good yoke may
last mans lifetime and with very little
cost for repairs. Farmers used to claim
that it cost less to feed an OK than a
horse because the latter must have grain
| would make no such claim, for | be-
lieve it will pay to feed some grain to
cattle every day. Oxen need a balanced
ration as much as do cows or any other
animal. Farm animals generally are fed
much better now than they were in our
grandfather's day. Then grain was
almost never fed to neat stock till few
weeks before killing for beef. | have
known farmers to feed their cattle in
winter nothing but the poorest kind oi
swamp hay, the straw of grain, and corn
stover that stood in the field till the
corn was dry enough to husk and put in
the bin. Were | to keep cattle in that
way now | should expect to be called on
by an agent of the society with long
name.
[ can recall more than one farmer who
had to call in neighbors in spring to help
lift some of his cows on to their feet,
they being too feeble to get up alone
'.Hornail" was common disease IN
those days, but we seldom hear OF II
now, nor of "tail sickness" which was
equally common among poorly fed ami
mails. | think most farm animals, II
they could know the history OF the race
would feel glad that they were born il
modern times since farmers have learn
ed of better ways OF treating the ant
mails under their care. Well used hors
es or oxen are as willingto work as are
their owners and they are as much the
better for the exercise of their muscles
Calves are easier to train than are young
colts, and farm boy is less likely to
lose his head with pair of steers than
with a colt that il thrcaten,ng to develop
a speedy gait. There ought to be more
oxen on some of our farms.-A. w
Cheever in New England Farmer.