[Howie]

Good for you Andy. They should make you a good pair. They have a lot of growing to do yet.
I should get down to see them, I was in your neighborhood just the other day.
I hope you take them to the MODA gathering this summer.

[Howie]

I am going to have a huge two day auction on 2nd and 3rd of Sept.
I might sell them then.

[Howie]

Just due to my health I am going let my great pair of Devon oxen go before winter. I know it is going to be hard but all good things must come to an end. Even a good life.

[Howie]

:oHow much money do you guys hope to get for your syrup.
Around here it is going for about $30 a gallon.

[Howie]

Are those cattle COWS?:mad::):):)
I put picture of one of those yokes in the photo gallery a while ago.

Howie

[Howie]

If an animal enjoys his work and likes to be with you then it becomes recreation and socializing.
I can talk ox yokes all day. I have or have had just about any yoke you can think of except a foerhead yoke.
Carl’s sweet point is the point where the animal is the most comfortable in the job he is doing.
If the draft is about right the hitch point will be 1/2 to 3/4 of the distance between the top of the neck seat and the bottom of the bow.
The draft just determines how much of a rolling hitch you are putting on the yoke. You can adjust by hitching to the front or back of the yoke or by raising or lowering the hich point.
The old kind of staple is hard to adjust the one I make is very easy to move the hitch point forward or back. Forward for a long or high hitch, back for a short or low htich.
The neck seat has a lot to do with how high or low he will carry his head.
The less elleptical or flater the neck seat the lower he will carry his head.
Most beginers have the bowes way to low and a yoke that is to big. The ox just can’t be comfortable with this. If the cattle are not comfortable they will not want to be with you or work for you.
If you are going to WORK your cattle the width of the neck seat is very important. I like about 4 and a half for 5 inch yoke about 7 for a 10.
I will try to put on a picture of my staple.

[Howie]

A band needs a good director.
Some people just make better laborers.:)
An an ox team needs a good director.
Some cattle just make better burger.:(

[Howie]

Don’t start with one that is going to have a huge udder to get damaged.
If they have been working every day, they can do lite work up until like 3 or 4 weeks and go back in 3 or 4 weeks.
I liked mine to freshen in February when all they had to do is feed hay.
I had mine nursing calves which were locked in the barn when the cows were working. The calves milked the cows out dry 3 times a day. I took what we wanted before I put the calves on.:)
You will need to be more considerate of a cow than a steer. She is using more energy than a steer which may be half again as big as her.
P.S. It is not work to pull a lite wagon that is exersize.
About half the oxen, of the emegrantes, on the Oregon trail were cows.:(

[Howie]

I am so old I can’t even keep up with myself 😡 so I just get on the cart and tell the steers what I want them to do.:)

Howie

[Howie]

Do you have the back side of the neck seat round enough and out around the bow holes? Your side straps may be to tight.:)

[Howie]

I would give the daughter a new one to train, and eat the bull.:mad:

[Howie]

I think my cows had more patience than my steers do. The steers are fine if I am in sight but if not then they have to try the strange driver.
Just like a kid, they have to see what they can get away with.:p

[Howie]

That is a very nice job on the yoke. My airplane had spruce wing spars.:(
Most ox people will tell you, an ox can back the load with his horns. BUT
I had a pair of Devon cows that could not back a big round bale of hay up into the feeder with their horns, but they had no problem with their britchens.:p
So far the Devons I have now have been able to back everything with their horns.:)

[Howie]

I have used the oval ones a long time ago. The only advantage I could find with them is the steers could back a bigger load with them.
I still have a few hanging around but don’t use them anymore. I even sold my gigs for bending them.:)

Howie

[Howie]

good for . That is a nice cart. I am building a new one. Mine is larger and will have quik change shafts and a pole.:)

[Author]

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