300 



ANIMAL MANAGEMENT. 



Fodder. 



Bhusa. 

 Watering. 



Marching 

 with oxen, 



During 

 halts. 



Pack 

 bullocks. 



Crossing 

 rivers. 



Shoeing. 



In South Africa it is not the custom to give grain, and under these 

 circumstances more time for grazing must of course be allowed. 



Fodder. — Oxen will eat and relish a coarser class of grass and fodder 

 than horses, and all grasses, straws and stems of standing crops may 

 be given. 



If animals are suddenly brought from a dry to a green ration, they 

 should not be allowed to gorge themselves at first or they get flatulent 

 colic (blown : hoven), but if possible some dry food should at first be 

 mixed with the green. 



Bhi'isa is excellent feed, and if sufficient is procurable nothing else 

 is required. 



Watering. — Oxen should be watered two or three times daily, 

 according to the temperature of the day. They should be allowed to 

 drink on the march whenever opportunity occurs 



Marching with oxen.— ThQ pace of ox transport is, as previously 

 stated, 2 to 2h miles an hour, and if not over-driven they will travel 

 fifteen to twenty or even twenty-four miles daily under favourable 

 conditions. The pace and distance covered with oxen depends not 

 only on the weather, but to a considerable extent on the drivers, as the 

 animals can only be induced to work well by those who thoroughly 

 understand their peculiarities and to whom they are accustomed. As a 

 rule, they are very timid of strangers, and become dangerous or stampede 

 if approached by white men when they are only accustomed to natives. 



They should not be worked when the sun is hot, and for this reason 

 marching in the late evening and early morning is to be advocated. In 

 India, however, where they are used to heat, they can very often be 

 worked all day, or during great part of it Up hills they are generally 

 good pullers if not over-taxed, but if they lose heart, they become 

 obstinate, and lie down. As yoked animals have little or no control over 

 carts going dow^n hill, an efficient brake is always necessary. 



During halts, if not grazing, and at night, the anima's may be tied to 

 the yoke bar, as they give no trouble and will remain quietly chewing the 

 cud till required. 



Pack bullocks are driven in droves ; they are apt to straggle in search 

 of fodder, but under skilful management move at about two miles an hour, 

 carrying i6o pounds. They may be secured to a picket rope, by a neck 

 rope being fastened alternately on each side. 



Crossi)ig rivers. — The ox is a good swimmer, takes the water readily, 

 and can ford comparatively deep streams against strong currents. 



Shoeing. — In India where working oxen have to travel made roads they 

 are shod. The shoes are flat pieces of iron shaped to each claw, and 



