296 AMERICAN CATTLE. 



pride in their possession. "When he no longer needs their labor, 

 they are always saleable at a good price. An ox team should 

 never be overworked, especially when young. They cannot 

 endure heat, particularly in the spring of the year and hot sum- 

 mer weather, so well as The horse, and their work in those seasons 

 should be spared in the middle of the day. At five to six years 

 old the ox is in his prime, and so continues until nine or ten ; but 

 he seldom feeds so well after passing eight years, and is better to 

 be turned out and fatted at that age, or earlier, after the spring 

 farm work is over. 



As to the best kinds for working oxen, we have said enough 

 in our remarks on the various breeds, in previous chapters. Many 

 excellent work steers may be selected from the native cattle ; but 

 an infusion of Deven, or Hereford blood, improves them; and 

 where great size and extraordinary power is required, grade 

 short-horns frequently make patient, honest workers. If the 

 farmer wants them only for his own use, so that the pair have 

 size, temper, and action alike, it is little matter what be the 

 breed, provided they be of good form and substance. They 

 will answer well his own purposes, and feed off profitably, at last. 

 It is a business with some farmers, where working oxen are in 

 demand and much used, to pick up, match, and break steers for 

 sale, and when they have a taste and genius for it, it is profita- 

 ble, as much so, perhaps, as any other commerce in cattle. In 

 such vicinities, breeding steers, for that purpose, may well be 

 worthy of attention. 



