Baduhmian Oxen

The Baduhmian Ox is a large bovine animal related to cattle and other ruminants but bred specifically for strength and endurance. They stand approximately 7ft. tall at the base of the neck, giving them an imposing presence. They have multiple stomachs and are grass feeders who adapt quite well to all forms of grazing. Their coat is thick, wooly hair with a very tough leather skin underneath it. The hair is often dark brown, but some have been bred to have lighter colors, including white, tan, and black. The hair can be sheared twice a year, unusually in late spring then again in mid-summer. In more temperate regions of Baduhm, they may also be sheared later in the year as they do not need the protection the hair provides. The hair that is sheared can be used for textiles and wigs. It is actually quite fine hair and is similar to coarse human hair. The hair is prized for its durability while still maintaining a soft texture.

The oxen are bred in colder climes, which helps them develop the prized thicker hide. The oxen are not raised to be slaughtered. In fact, it is illegal in Baduhm to kill the oxen. They may only be killed in battle, die of natural causes, or in circumstances of extreme suffering to the animal. For this reason, the hides are rare and valuable. The colder biomes trigger a hormone in the oxen's body that drives the development of cells that build the hide. The thicker hide makes the oxen more impervious to cold and makes it tougher to cut or puncture in battle. The hormone also causes the growth of the hair on the oxen. They are typically moved to warmer climes at the end of their first year, as the hides have had enough time to develop their growth habit. By moving to warmer climes, they begin to adapt to temperatures found throughout the majority of Baduhm. In these zones, they will be allowed to graze and grow.

The oxen reproduce as with most livestock. Depending on what the oxen will be used for, they are often bred for strength, hair color/quality, or vibrational sensitivity. The most successful farms in raising these oxen are located near the southern end of the Rinzeremel Mountains, which provides a cooler clime for raising the more cold-hardy oxen.

Limited to the country of Baduhm. Removal of the oxen from Baduhm is punishable by death.

Gestation for the oxen is approximately 310 days from insemination and fertilization. The oxen weigh approximately 60-80 pounds at birth. Male oxen generally are born smaller but grow more quickly and are 10% larger than the females at maturity. Young oxen are weaned from their mothers at about 8 weeks of age, as they can process grains and grasses at an early age. They have normally doubled in weight by this time, ranging from 120-150 pounds, and about 24" at the shoulder. Adolescent oxen are 8-12 months old, and by this time, have reached a weight of approximately 400 lbs and 40" at the shoulder. At this stage, males begin growing horns that will eventually grow to 4 feet across, with a slight twist resembling a ram's horns. These twists also cause the tip of the horns to protrude forward, making them formidable weapons in both dominance and battle. The oxen reach full maturity at 34 months of age, with males usually topping out at around 4000 lbs. and females at approximately 3600. Shoulder height is in the range of 6-7 1/2 feet for females, 7-9 feet for males. The females become ready for breeding at approximately 20 months of age, but this is considered very early and can actually damage the reproductive cycle of that female.

The oxen are particularly attuned to vibrations in the ground. It is this ability that made them prized during times of war. The oxen would alert to approaching troops far before the could be seen or heard by the Badumian forces. While their hearing is unexceptional, this ability to sense vibration has been selectively bred to give current Baduhmian Oxen a high degree of sensitivity. This, of course, requires training the oxen to not alert to every vibration they sense, a task that requires months of conditioning.