In the late fourties many farmers(white) still used oxen to plough their fields but some of us used mules instead because they worked faster and if I remember correctly we only use 10-12 mules for a 2 furrow plow with 14 inch shears. The guys with the oxen used at least 12 oxen but more often 16! You have to know the business to control 12 mules and to get them harnessed. They all wear eye flaps because they easily got startled. Some of our black farmers still use oxen but it is something that will disappear in the next 20 years. I think there is a nish marketing oppertunity if one can keep 12 to 16 well trained oxen and show off with them on shows, festivals, etc. People of today do not have a clue how we as farmers struggle in the beginning years - and you know what it was peaceful and we live longer. Thanks for a great video. I like the way you control the oxen from behind - with our bigger teams we used somebody infron, one aside with a long handle whip and one guy controling the plow. Regards from Springbok country - South Africa.
Thank you for your reply. I'm glad that you appreciated this video. Actually, in India they've been using oxen in this way for thousands of years. All the Hare Krishna farms around the world use oxen, so it is something, at least in our community that will never die out.
I love your video.And do believe that everyone can grow their own food and milk.People shouldn’t depend on a store to stock up their food.We have the power to teach others and continue this tradition for generations to come.And poverty Can no longer be a reason people starve.Thanks for sharing this tradition.I guarantee organic food taste better and even better when you know you harvested.
Dear Erin. Thank you for your constructive criticism and thoughts. I really appreciate an honest opinion of my work. When I shot this I was a full on ox worker and had only just started to make films and learn about editing. My idea was to produce a series of educational films for devotees, and anyone else who may be interested in working the land with oxen and keeping a cow or two. Krsna is very kind. Hari bol!
This filming was of excellent quality; I could have used it for a learning series on animals if it had a narrative. Maybe you'll do another? Or add a soundtrack to this one?
The word ox came from the Old English word oxa. The Anglo-Saxons called cattle oxa while the Normans called them boef in Old French. I think the reason the word ox became restricted to oxen is because the Anglo-Saxons used them to plow fields and pull carts while the Normans ate beef. Can you believe that?
Confused why the nose rings which must be very painful to force your will and force compliance - is this really necessary and the highest way to respect the cow?
Yes Leela, love Ravi Shanka raga's. Obviously been some people on here that have heard the music and obviously have absolutely no idea about Indian music or culture. Anyway, it takes all sorts in this life, so it seems. Om 🕉 Hari Om 🕉
@ Wessel Van Wyk, Sir thank you so much for making this video, I am from India and I glad to see this video, I was eagerly awaiting for such videos where you are using oxen instead of mule because in India we prefer oxen only, i want to develope such farming equipment here in India, i request your help by providing me a disign to develope such kind of equipment which help us a lot for affordable farming.
Our oxen here are just now old enough to work and we're getting familiar with the equipment we've collected. With horse farming, they usually use three draft horses for a riding plow and it does look like hard going for the two you are working. Our soil here in Glenoma, Washington is very soft and light, so even with our out-of-condition oxen, do you think we can use a riding plow?
Give it a try, you've nothing to lose. There are tried and tested methods for farming, but there is a lot to be said for trial and error also. Good luck and please keep me posted on your progress. Hare Krsna.
He was born with big knees, so it was in his genetic make up. They didn't cause him any problems. He name was Sukadeva. He was extremely peaceful, and a very gentle soul. My favourite ox who sadly passed away a few years ago.
Hi Matty, Thank you for the video. I'm a PhD student and I wonder if it would possible to use your oxen for research? Is there an email or website, or something where we could discuss? Thanks!
The oxen work between 12-15 years through out their lives. It all depends on the particular oxen as they are all individuals, and therefore they all have individual spans of time for their working lives. We are currently working on getting blue collars for all the oxen. When they retire, they literally retire. They don't have to work anymore and, they can lay in the warm barns in the hay during winter. Then when spring comes they stay out to pasture until it gets too cold, and again the whole herd come into the warm barns for the duration of the cold UK winter until, again when the warm spring weather comes around again.
un servidor tabajo hasta los 22 años 9 meses en esto de cultibar tierras con ynta de bueyes pero por motibos economicos emigre a la ciudad de monterrey n l a trabajar en una fabrica de refrescos envriagantes si abusas de ellos me encantaba la agricultura o me encanta soy un sr de 76 años natibo de s n l mexico saludos camaradas pedro alanis alanis perdon por mi mala ortografia paa
Can a single ox pull a 1 12"-14" furrow plow or 2 oxen pull a 2 furrow plow? I've googled and can't find anything. I would think the could given 2-3 horses pull a single.
Matty Dread so theoretically 2 oxen could pull 2 bottoms for at least half a day? I would think that's better than 3 horses pulling 1 all day. Our family had a 1000 head beef setup but we had to quit feeding in 05. Never did oxen. There is an Amish farm an hour from where I live.
kinnymonster Yes I would think they could. By the way, in our culture the cow is sacred and it is most sinful to kill her. The western world just needs to be educated. Please don't take offence. Nothing personally directed at you.
Matty Dread you're Indian? I don't take offense. To each their own. My best friend growing up was seventh day adventist, split hoof only. The crime is those large dairy operations in India. Cattle was our life. The better they were the better we did. There was also a lil emotional attachment that went away when we sold for profit.
kinnymonster No I'm not of Indian birth but follow the ancient Vedic way of life, known otherwise as Hare Krishna. To us all life is sacred. We are pure vegetarian, no meat, fish or eggs. To us all life is equal whether human or animal.
It's a shame there is no audio to hear the vocal cues for the bullocks (sorry, oxen on that side of the world) and I found some content a little slow going - not so time consuming if you are out on the field actually with them, but as a video it could have been shorter, or at least with a narrative of given vocal cues, their names etc, something to make it more personal. Even so, all glories to your seva, it is nice to see the boys out working in this age where so many ISKCON farms breed to milk cows - and use milking machines =( - and the boys just munch around on grass - their manure is a great service but Prabhupada always wanted the boys to be used instead of tractors. So yay actually following real cow protection! I am inspired.
Very beautiful video. it's sad how in western countries the knowlege of training oxes is getting lost (I live in one too: Switzerland). have you experience with training a cow? I have a mothercow who realy likes to pull. Do you use voice commands?
+Calida Feuersichel Hi Calida. Thank you for your nice comment. The voice commands we use are based on the American system for training oxen. Get up = go. Haw = left. Gee (pronounced 'jee') = right. Woah = stop. Get back = get back (reverse). The reverse command will only work when the oxen are free standing without being attached to any buggy or cart etc. To train them you may have to use a stick. Please don't hit them hard. We never use excessive force, but animals understand what a stick is. We could never do what we do without it. Hard to control big heavy oxen without a stick or a whip. No doubt people may find this alarming but please don't forget that we are into protecting cows and not hurting them. Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple UK is one of the biggest cow protection centres in Europe.
Thank you so much for this video. Please make more videos for beginners in the farming and goshala dairy...also 1. Vegetable garden for producing organic vegetables or one's where lots of chemicals are not used. 2. Tulsi tree cultivation and maintenance 3. How to get food for the cattle in cheap. 4. Goshala maintenance and looking after gomathas 5. Harvesting rain water for forming 6. Sustainable energy sources like solar, wind, cow-dung gas (biogas) etc and other videos which you like..... Sir, you have very good knowledge and a kind heart please make more videos...please.....
That older brown and white ox NEEDS to be on the outside of the turn because his knees are SWOLLEN. Tight inside turns out too much strain on his poor SWOLLEN knees. But the boys need help plowing properly to get it done easier on them and the ox.
Some hard-working assistants. That plowing looks like pretty tough going. Hope they get all kinds of appreciation from you. They look awfully well taken care of.
Le Kre Yes. The place where they live is Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple. It's the biggest cow protection centre in the UK and the second in Europe.
Like all similar questions, the correct answer is: It depends!! They are different, but not hugely different. Horses are faster, and tend to be more versatile. They think and respond a bit differently, and some will find one or the other species easier to work with. Cows can be trained as oxen and also milked and their calves eaten - but so can horses; it just is not part of our culture. So, it depends on what you like, and what you are comfortable with. They both can reproduce themselves. Run on 'solar' power (via pasture and hay), instead of purchased fuels. With good care, they both can do useful work into their late teens or early 20s. With proper management, they will both increase soil fertility. But plowing - except for narrow rows in a cover crop or closely grazed pasture (see Gab4e Brown or Colin Seis on RU-vid) - is destructive, no matter the power source used.
I've owned both, I will never own another horse. They are brain dead idiots. Oxen are much more reliable, the ones in this video don't work together very well.
I am living in India and I have seen people using male water buffaloes too but never horses for farm works. I even have 2 water buffaloes but they are for milk and butter.
The yoke is so different from American yokes. Not to say it is bad, but it does not appear to fit. Haven't seen chains to the nose and wonder why they are even ringed. The pioneers didn't ring them I guess there are many manners of working. Weird yoke though. Could definitely do without the music.
Why can't a normal harness being used on an ox? This seems so uncomfortable for them. A wooden 'stick' in your neck and something around your neck without being able to move your head doesn't seem very friendly to me. Why is that?
Saartje05 Strongman competitions, yoke walk although that is a weight carry rather then a pull, if that hurt them, they wouldn't use it. Also ox yokes are carefully built as to assure animal comfort.
I agree.If the animal (ox or horse) wears this behind their head for about 4 hours long.Think about how in one day,a month,a year can change their bone structure.Maybe it won’t show for them.But,the time the animal wears it it prolongs So,much uncomfortability.Hope,there can be a better way to keep them working in the field with comfortable harness.I doubt that the wood behind their head is comfortable.There has to be a better way.Practically is just to keep them together and moving forward.But,there has to be a better way.Just my opinion altough they do a great job.Traditionally is an old way to plot the ground.Hope,someone can figure this one out and give them the change they need.
+fuerstmetternich I don't like those thing at all, I don't understand why an ox have to pull like this and not with it's chest like a horse. Looks so uncomfortable for them. Although the animals are well take care off, but still.
Pulling by the neck or with some system of yoking, by the horns is traditional, and works fine. Oxen can pull heavy wagons and skid timber. These yokes don't really seem to fit, nor do the oxen appear to be working together. I can't tell if the teamster is using voice commands, or not. The oxen seem in good flesh. No pole on the plow is curious. I agree they do not appear comfortable at all. I'm interested in them and just read a good book featuring oxen teams as the principals going out the Old Oregon Trail.
Lynne Huff Voice commands are always used to control oxen. Because of the pecking order, the dominant oxen always tries to give the more submissive oxen a hard time, even whilst harnessed in a yoke. The yokes are hand made by the bramhacari's (monk's) who live at the temple. The yokes may look like they don't fit but work perfectly.
It's traditional classical Indian music. If it's not to your taste than use the the thing called the 'volume control.' Anyway, do you actually have anything positive to say?
You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus the anointed is Lord! Repent and be baptized and believe the Gospel.
If you read the description properly, there was going to be a whole set of videos about cow husbandry. The set was going to be called ' A house for mother cow.' This video was intended as a part of that series.
If you do your research then you'll find that the Hare Krishna people are number one in the world for cow protection. Also research the Hindu scripture and you'll see that they regard the cow as one of their seven mothers.
Actually modern machinery is the killer of all draft animals. You're probably unaware that where this is filmed is actually the biggest cow protection centre in the UK. You'll find that wherever there is a Hare Krishna farm that all the cow's, oxen and bull's are protected, as this is part and parcel of Vedic agriculture.
It is always very difficult to control and guide two animals. In case of young bulls it is extremely difficult, because they are 'beast' even they are constrated. My view is that instead of two constrated bulls one young bull can do the same job. But that cannot be trusted. After all, it is a 'beast' and it has the capacity to kill you at any time, even you are his master!
Sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. In over 30 year's, none of the oxen have ever passed away from starvation, although I presume that you meant to say ' suffocation. '