Oxbow

Developed form

Its upper ends pass through a purpose-drilled hole through the bar of the yoke that is held in place into the yoke with a metal screw or key, called a bow pin. Where wood is used it is most often hardwood steamed into shape, especially elm, hickory or willow. A ring, enabling left/right movement controlled from the centre, is attached by a plate to the centre underside of a wooden yoke to enable a pair of bullocks/oxen to be chained to any other pairs in a team and to be hitched to the load behind the animal team.

Alternative

Wooden staves can be used instead with a yoke, which is then termed a withers yoke, named after animals with high backs (withers) (e.g. zebu cattle) which pull mostly on the yoke part of the equipment, not as greatly on the bow shape borne by the stronger front quarters of oxen and bullocks.

References

References

1. (1992). "Britchen, Brakes, Head Yokes for restraining loads behind oxen". Tillers International.
2. (1997). "Yoking and Harnessing Single Cattle". Tillers International.
3. "Harnessing Draught Animals". Zimbabwe Farmers Union; Department for Agricultural Technical and Extension Services (Agritex).
4. Hoffmann, John. (2014). "The Lincoln Ox Yoke at the University of Illinois".