I have been concerned recently with the question of oxen.
My perception was that they were part of everyday life here in the Uk until relatively recently, but have now seemingly completely disappeared. I have to admit that I was not even sure whether they were a specially bred species, or not.
It appears that oxen were originally the generic name given to all cattle. Later it came to refer to male cattle, and then to specially bred cattle, usually neutered, who were trained from birth,and matched as part of a pair as working beasts.
However Oxen were slow when compared to horses, and lost out over time to these rivals. Later of course horses lost in turn to automated horsepower.
There appears to be a rich lore around oxen. They also provide a window into a way of life long since passed.
There will be more to come as I search out some further information.
