Dexter cows as draft animals?

[jimg]

Hi,
We're hoping to replace our tractor with oxen - to pull a sickle mower with a 6-foot blade, a hay rake, a hay wagon, and a manure spreader, and maybe to skid the occasional log. Most of the year they wouldn't have any ox-type work to do. Since we have limited pasture, we'd rather not have freeloaders, so we thought it would be nice to use cows, rather than steers. This seems to be uncommon in North America these days, but apparently wasn't in previous centuries, and isn't now, in other parts of the world (see, for example, www.vet.ed.ac.uk/ctvm/Research/DAPR/Training Publications/Cows 001/9202_Using_Cows.pdf). Also in the interests of efficient pasture use, we'd like to use Dexters. Our question is, would a pair of Dexter cows be able to do the work mentioned above, or should we look at larger breeds?

Many thanks for any guidance!

[otf]

Are you a Facebook person? If you are, you can search "Dexter Oxen" and find information. The Ohio Dexter Breeders Association recent show featured an exhibit/demo by someone who uses Dexter oxen (steers, I think), but you could contact that person and inquire. Also Rural Heritage may have information; it's a long-standing website that used to have quite a bit of oxen related information. www.ruralheritage.com/new_rh_website/index_green.shtml

[jimg]

Thanks, otf, I'll check out those leads.

[cddexter]

Jim: I think you'll find it's only steers in North America. I've seen cows used successfully in other parts of the world, tho'. My best guess is you'd need perhaps some of the larger non-dwarf, and cows that had moderate well attached udders. I hope you proceed, as it would be an interesting project. Let us know? Cheers, c.

[jimg]

Thanks, cddexter. I'll probably be on here a lot once I have a team, so updates there will be!