Comments on: Oxen Power For Family Farms http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/ Organic Grocery Market, Shop Local, Small Farms, Family Farms Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:01:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: neggin http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-4638 neggin Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:54:30 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-4638 Oh... I did not know that non-Alaska Natives could not own the reindeer from the established herds. And there it is right in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Otherwise, I saw the reindeer as an under-appreciated trainable work animal that gets made into sausages and leather, and seldom gets to show its real talents. So it just won't work but thankyou for entertaining my idea. Best of luck with putting the goats to work. Oh… I did not know that non-Alaska Natives could not own the reindeer from the established herds. And there it is right in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Otherwise, I saw the reindeer as an under-appreciated trainable work animal that gets made into sausages and leather, and seldom gets to show its real talents. So it just won’t work but thankyou for entertaining my idea. Best of luck with putting the goats to work.

]]> By: Kerri http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-4636 Kerri Fri, 30 Jan 2009 17:20:29 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-4636 Neggin, A good idea except that as a non-Alaska Native, I would have to import reindeer from outside Alaska to own them. Only Alaska Native peoples are able to own Alaska reindeer. In addition, reindeer do best with large grazing areas and in large numbers. Having to import reindeer from somewhere else would be a hefty expense to begin with. That the problem is finding a way to clear a forested area off a road without having to first clear a trail for heavy equipment won't help any reindeer brought it. That's why I was toying with the idea of using goats. At least goats already live on that land. Kerri in AK Neggin,

A good idea except that as a non-Alaska Native, I would have to import reindeer from outside Alaska to own them. Only Alaska Native peoples are able to own Alaska reindeer. In addition, reindeer do best with large grazing areas and in large numbers. Having to import reindeer from somewhere else would be a hefty expense to begin with. That the problem is finding a way to clear a forested area off a road without having to first clear a trail for heavy equipment won’t help any reindeer brought it.

That’s why I was toying with the idea of using goats. At least goats already live on that land.

Kerri in AK

]]> By: neggin http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-4630 neggin Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:00:06 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-4630 Another possibility for Kerri: Reindeer were likely domesticated before the horse. They are still recognized for being the ONE draft animal, besides the dog, best suited to some very cold parts of the world. They may be unequal to other domesticated draft animals in some ways ... but they can handle cold, forage for themselves at least part of their diet, have already been introduced to Alaska and bred there for some time, and have an long established tradition of being draft animals. Perhaps the Alaskan-bred population of domestic reindeer would need minimal housing, and certainly their feeding and vetrinary care have been well worked out these past several decades. Another possibility for Kerri:
Reindeer were likely domesticated before the horse. They are still recognized for being the ONE draft animal, besides the dog, best suited to some very cold parts of the world. They may be unequal to other domesticated draft animals in some ways … but they can handle cold, forage for themselves at least part of their diet, have already been introduced to Alaska and bred there for some time, and have an long established tradition of being draft animals. Perhaps the Alaskan-bred population of domestic reindeer would need minimal housing, and certainly their feeding and vetrinary care have been well worked out these past several decades.

]]> By: Kerri http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-2830 Kerri Sun, 24 Aug 2008 06:12:38 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-2830 Alan, How do I find your blog? I'd be thrilled to follow your experience with training. Could an adult be trained or is this something that's done with young ones? The goats here are Cashmeres and a couple of the wethers are quite large (the buck is enormous). All the kids this year were does and I don't think they'll be all that big when they mature. The primary purpose for this herd is clearing underbrush although there could be a nice side business selling the cashmere wool. But to have goats that can be trained to pull will help a lot with clearing part of the land. It's 80 acres with a 1 acre clearing and 79 acres of mostly birch with some spruce, alder, willow and cottonwood mixed in. Getting a four wheeler or tractor back in there is practically impossible without cutting a huge pathway first. Even horses would be a little large through some spots. Thanks for the info! Kerri in AK Alan,

How do I find your blog? I’d be thrilled to follow your experience with training. Could an adult be trained or is this something that’s done with young ones? The goats here are Cashmeres and a couple of the wethers are quite large (the buck is enormous). All the kids this year were does and I don’t think they’ll be all that big when they mature. The primary purpose for this herd is clearing underbrush although there could be a nice side business selling the cashmere wool.

But to have goats that can be trained to pull will help a lot with clearing part of the land. It’s 80 acres with a 1 acre clearing and 79 acres of mostly birch with some spruce, alder, willow and cottonwood mixed in. Getting a four wheeler or tractor back in there is practically impossible without cutting a huge pathway first. Even horses would be a little large through some spots.

Thanks for the info!

Kerri in AK

]]> By: alan http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-2829 alan Sun, 24 Aug 2008 00:56:13 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-2829 Kerri, Goats can be trained as a team. They have often been used as cart animals. A mature Swiss breed goat can pull about 400 lbs. Teaming them can increase that. Hoegger Goat Supply Company has the basic equipment, books, and can offer a bit of guidance. We will be starting to train one of our goats this fall. We'll post to our blog as things progress. If it works they should be the best option for most small garden/farms for everything except the heaviest work. Kerri,

Goats can be trained as a team. They have often been used as cart animals. A mature Swiss breed goat can pull about 400 lbs. Teaming them can increase that. Hoegger Goat Supply Company has the basic equipment, books, and can offer a bit of guidance. We will be starting to train one of our goats this fall. We’ll post to our blog as things progress. If it works they should be the best option for most small garden/farms for everything except the heaviest work.

]]> By: Gene Logsdon http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-2776 Gene Logsdon Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:00:26 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-2776 Robert Haugland: I don't kmow enough to write a first hand book about oxen. I know a lot about cows, but not about turning them into "beasts of burden." Kerri in AK: I have a hunch, from this and other comments you have made to my posts, that if we were to meet in person we would have a hilarious time giggling about the madness of humanity. I have argued, in other books and articles, exactly the point you are making here. Even n Ohio, this survivor of two runaways and two bucking riding horses, namely me, have bullheadedly and consistently argued in favor of old tractors that I have purchased for a whole lot less than horses, and kept running now for many many years. I admire and defend my friends who have opted for horses or oxen, but unfortunately, they are not for me in modern times. Gene Logsdon Robert Haugland: I don’t kmow enough to write a first hand book about oxen. I know a lot about cows, but not about turning them into “beasts of burden.”
Kerri in AK: I have a hunch, from this and other comments you have made to my posts, that if we were to meet in person we would have a hilarious time giggling about the madness of humanity. I have argued, in other books and articles, exactly the point you are making here. Even n Ohio, this survivor of two runaways and two bucking riding horses, namely me, have bullheadedly and consistently argued in favor of old tractors that I have purchased for a whole lot less than horses, and kept running now for many many years. I admire and defend my friends who have opted for horses or oxen, but unfortunately, they are not for me in modern times. Gene Logsdon

]]> By: Kerri http://www.yourlocalmarketblog.com/2008/08/19/oxen-power-for-family-farms/#comment-2773 Kerri Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:03:38 +0000 http://organictobe.org/?p=1203#comment-2773 Ah, but oxen aren't the best source of labor here in Alaska. Having to house them for at least six months and then feed them all that time reduces their effectiveness. That's not to say horses are any better; they're even more expensive to keep. Now, if somebody can show me how to train a team of goats to do the work, then I'll be paying very close attention. If not goats, I'd entertain alternatives even, so suggestions would be welcome. Kerri in AK Ah, but oxen aren’t the best source of labor here in Alaska. Having to house them for at least six months and then feed them all that time reduces their effectiveness. That’s not to say horses are any better; they’re even more expensive to keep.

Now, if somebody can show me how to train a team of goats to do the work, then I’ll be paying very close attention. If not goats, I’d entertain alternatives even, so suggestions would be welcome.

Kerri in AK

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