Oxen

Stalwart and powerful, oxen are employed as working cattle in nearly every country and on six continents. Stronger, steadier, less expensive, and easier to keep than draft horses, oxen can plow fields, haul stones, assist in logging, improve roads, and showcase traditional farming techniques. Oxen can help smallscale farmers keep costs down and productivity up without expensive machinery. Not surprisingly, these utilitarian animals are growing in appeal. "Oxen: A Teamster's Guide" is the definitive resource for selecting, training, feeding, and caring for the mighty ox. Written by Drew Conroy, a professor of dairy science with more than two decades of experience as a trainer and teamster, the book shows readers how to select an ideal team, properly feed and house oxen, train calves and mature cattle, fit a yoke and bows, address common challenges, and maintain a team's overall health. He also explains how to use oxen safely for a variety of farming and logging tasks, and how to train a team for public demonstrations and competitions. Filled with dozens of photographs and illustrations, including a 16-page color insert, useful reference charts, and a glossary of terms, the book provides all the details a novice needs to select, train, and care for a working team.