Buck and Tip, the Mahaffie oxen, are four years old. They are accurately called "oxen" now that they have reached maturity. Until they reach four years of age, young oxen-in-training are properly referred to as working steers. Weighing in about 1800 pounds each in the Spring of 2010, they will eventually reach a ton or more (over 2000 pounds) each in the next two years.
Any breed of cattle can be trained as oxen: ox is a "job description." Buck and Tip are Milking Shorthorns - the most common breed of cattle trained as oxen in the mid-19th century Midwest. Oxen are neutered male calves (steers) trained to verbal and physical commands so they can perform work like draft horses. Wearing a wooden yoke that connects them to each other, a chain or wagon tongue is hooked to a large round ring in the middle of that yoke. In this way, they may pull a plow, cart, wagon, or simple wooden sled known as a stone boat or log scoot.
Before the Civil War, oxen performed the heaviest labor on American farms. After the Civil War, draft horses began taking their place as the new, mechanized farm equipment required more speed to operate properly. Oxen can pull a dead weight of one-half their own body weight. In other words, two oxen weighing a ton each, may pull one ton of dead weight between them.
"Loxican" of ox commands:
Whoa — stop
Get Up — both animals begin walking
Step Up — the individual animal should move forward
Step Over — step from side to side as directed by the driver
Over Gee — turn right
Come Haw — turn left
Back Up — tap on the knees and the animals will back up
James Mahaffie kept eight oxen on this farm in 1865. He also judged oxen at the county fair. Along with the site's location on the Westport Route of the Santa Fe, Oregon, and California Trails, it is very appropriate that oxen are back on the Mahaffie farm.
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