Ox

Ox
Scientific Classification
Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Mammalia
Order	Artiodactyla
Family	Bovidae
Genus	Bos
Species	B. taurus

An ox (plural oxen), also known as a bullock in Australia, is a term used to refer to male cattle (bulls) as trained draft animals. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals easier to control. The word "Ox" comes from Middle English oxe which comes from Old English oxa which comes from Proto-Germanic *uhsô which ultimately comes from Proto-Indo-European *uksḗn. Further origin unknown but it maybe have been borrowed from Proto-Kartvelian *usx- meaning "sacrificial bull". This makes Ox cognate with German Ochse and Welsh ych. Oxen are used for ploughing, for transport (pulling trolleys, hauling wagons and even riding) for threshing grains by trampling and powering machines that grind grain or supply irrigation among other purposes. Oxen may be also used to skid logs in forests, particularly in low-impact, select-cut logging. Oxen are usually yoked in pairs. Light work such as carting household items on good roads might require just one pair, while for heavier work, further pairs would be as necessary. A team used for a heavy load over difficult ground might exceed nine or ten pairs.

Gallery

Ox facing to its right

An Ox walking the land