296 



ANIMAI- MANAGEMENT. 



Intoler- 

 ance of 

 wet with 

 cold 

 weather. 



Sore 

 necks. 



Watering. 



System of 

 trekking 

 practised 

 by trans- 

 port 

 riders. 



Selection 

 of camping 

 grounds 

 in cold 

 weather. 



Outspan- 

 ning in 

 winter. 



influences, it is incumbent when this process is taking place that the 

 work should be reduced, and measures taken to prevent exposure to wind 

 and rain. 



Ifitolerajtce of wet with cold weather. — Bovine tolerance of wet with 

 cold weather is small, and if oxen are exposed to it when in low condition 

 they die off rapidly, and in great numbers. When wet weather prevails, it 

 is advisable to knock off work altogether, and turn the oxen into bush or 

 sheltered ground. 



Sore necks. — Another cogent reason why oxen should not be worked 

 in wet weather is that the yoke causes " sore necks " from the increased 

 friction of the wet yoke on the skin. The part of the neck on which 

 the yoke bears becomes excoriated, and the skin tender and tumefied. 



In the way of prevention, that part of the yoke, and the skin on 

 which it bears, should in rainy weather be well oiled or greased, so long 

 as the oxen are working. 



Watering. — Oxen should be watered at least three times a day in 

 summer and twice a day in winter. 



System of trekking practised by transport riders. — Transport riders 

 when engaged on private business, generally travel at night. As a rule 

 they inspan at sundown, work four hours, then outspan for four 

 hours, and then inspan until sunrise. By this system of trekking the 

 work is done during the night, when it is cool, and the oxen have the 

 whole of the day to rest and graze. This sensible method could not, 

 however, be carried out in time of war ; nevertheless, a modified form of 

 it could be practised on the lines of communication, and in those parts 

 of the country where there was no danger of being attacked by an 

 enemy. Oxen should not be inspanned for more than fours hours 

 consecutively. 



Selection of camping grounds in cold weather. — When camping for 

 the night, advantage should be taken of rises in the ground to shelter the 

 animals from cold winds, hail and rain. In Zululand, there is often 

 excessive cold and rain on high mountains, while it is comparatively warm 

 and fine somewhat lower down. 



The fact that oxen are slow in recovering from low condition, that 

 when in this state their draught power is reduced by one-half, and that 

 cold wet v»-eather kills them off like flies, should be ever present in the 

 minds of the officers in charge. 



Outspantiing in ivintcr. — When " trekking " in winter, oxen should be 

 '' outspanned " near rivers, brook, spruits, low-lying ground, or bush 

 country, as in these places grass is more abundant, and of a more 

 nutritious character. 



