[Howie]

How many yokes you will need is determined by what you have for cattle and how you raised them.:confused:

If you have Brown Swiss/Chianinia and really push for size and power. You will start with a 5 inch yoke and need to change at least every inch. You will finish with at least a 12 and maybe a 13 or even 14 inch yoke. IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO FEED FOR THAT SIZE.:confused:

If you have a Dexter and kind of hold him back and work him easy. You could start him in a 4 inch, then put 5 inch bows in it, then go to a 6, then put in 7 inch bows. You would end up with an 8 or maybe a 7 inch yoke.:eek:

[Howie]

If you are going to use reins for control, I do not think you should use a horse bit. With a bit in his mouth he will not be able to chew his cud.
I think the best thing is either a nose bit or a halter. The halter should be a little different than most people use. It should be made of a material like parachute cord. The nose band should be quite low with a ring on each side.
A peace of cord goes from each ring, goes under the jaw and through the ring on the opposite side.

[Howie]

Wolfgang
I don’t know what is the proper length one supposed to be, but if you were to buy one from me, and not specify the length it would be 24 to 26 inches long.:D:p

Howie:(

[Howie]

Although I never tie mine, I think it is the same with oxen as with horses. It is primarily in their training. Thirty plus years ago I bought a pair that all you had to do was take your eyes off of them and they would be gone. I bought a pair about twenty years ago that would stand real well until they got bored then the would wander off. It is all in the training.;)

[Howie]

I went to visit one of my Amish friends today. He shipped his cows last week. He said his milk check did not pay the grain bill and he was not going to pay the feed company just so he could milk cows.:(

[Howie]

Sorry Humble but you pulled my chain.:mad:
I have never pulled a horse for sport but I have been involved with horses and oxen for well over 70 years. I have found that 99% of these people that are complaining about animal abuse do not have a clue about what they are complaining about.
If that horse is going to win.
1 He must have the attitude and will.
2 He must get proper exercise EVERYDAY.
3 He must get proper diet EVERYDAY.
4 He must get proper health care Everyday.
5 And the list goes on and on.
The horse that can be FORCED to give his all just does not exist.:rolleyes:

[Howie]

Sorry Humble but you pulled my chain.
I have never pulled a horse for sport but I have been involved with horses and oxen for well over 70 years. I have found that 99% of these people that are complaining about animal abuse do not have a clue about what they are complaining about.
If that horse is going to win.
1 He must have the attitude and will.
2 He must get proper exercize EVERYDAY.
3 He must get proper diet EVERYDAY.
4 He must get proper health care Everyday.
5 And the list goes on and on.
The horse that can be FORCED to give his all just does not exist.

[Howie]

A few years ago the Amish here sold several semi loads of 5×5 posts to an outfit in Florida. They said it would last just as long as the treated would.

[Howie]

The farmers here are getting $10 and something for milk, that is a long way from the break even price. We had several veal growers around here but they are not making a go of it. When I was a kid before the WWII calves here were so cheap we knocked them in the head and sold the hide. We are in the same situation now except you can’t get anything for the hide.

[Howie]

If you send a bull calf to the commissions sale you generally get a bill instead of a check. They do not bring enough to pay the sale costs. Trucking, commission, advertising and what have you. He sent three of them a couple weeks ago and got a bill for $28 and something.:mad:

[Howie]

There is a farm near here where the compost all their dead animals.
They do about a dozen cows a year plus right now there are about 3 or 4 bull calves a week.

[Howie]

Geoff

Milk price here is way down but even at $80 a bag that is still cheaper than SALEABLE milk. If you don’t have extra milk then most of the farmers here use replacer. Have a friend with a large herd, about 200, that says that if is not fit for people then it is not fit for his calves.

[Howie]

The ” Tiller’s fit” is a very good place to start.
Now you should start them on a very lite load and see how the yoke seats and if the cattle are comfortable with it. You will have to adjust it to make the cattle happy if they are to be good workers.
Most people have a tendency to use a yoke that is to big and have the bows to low.

[Howie]

somwhere in here you need someone to help you fit the yoke and bows and to set the draft.

[Howie]

Carl

MAN If I had your writing abilaty I would sit right down and write a book on training oxen.:)

[Author]

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