Rural Heritage December 2025/January 2026

picking calves, it is important to try to match two animals as well as possible for the most effective team. Horns have a function for oxen to keep the yoke in place, and they play a role in the heritage of oxen. Many dairy and beef breeds are now genetically polled for safety purposes, but this makes it more difficult to find horned calves. Despite being twins, Joe is horned while Mack is polled because their dam was bred to a polled sire. I do not mind that Mack is polled, and the poll of his head is very prominent, so I do not anticipate there being any issues with the yoke slipping over his head. Conformation is the way an animal’s body parts are put together: for example, feet and legs are important in draft animals because they support the rest of the animal and allow them to pull loads. If the feet and legs of an animal are poorly conformed, it could lead to injuries or premature retirement. Mack is the bigger of the two steers with a taller and wider frame. Of my pair, Mack had a wider chest and

Mary Osmer with her Dutch Belted team Joe & Mack in July, 2025.

Joe & Mack tied with collars in their garage stall bedded with pine shavings, buckets of grain, water, and hay.

December 2025/January 2026

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