In a field, an ox pulls a team and obeys its owner with his finger and eye. This ancestral practice reappears on farms in France, notably in Courgenard, in Sarthe. Former owner of a 72 hectare farm, Luc Bernard wanted to find a farm on a human scale. He swapped his tractor for cattle, to help him with his daily tasks: “ It's a pleasure to work with an animal, not to hear the noise of the engines. And the bond we form with the animal is very satisfying. »
The art of the yoke: precious artisanal know-how
Professionals from all over France came to Sarthe to discuss these ancestral techniques. Coming from Burgundy, Michel Nioulou makes custom-made yokes by hand: “ It's really very ergonomic. A yoke is a piece of wood that must fit as closely as possible so as not to injure the animal. It also has to be comfortable for him. »
Patient learning for cattle and farmers
Cattle traction requires a long learning period for the animals. A cattle specialist, Laurent Martin supports farmers who would like to get started: “ There is dressage and everything related to equipment, like yokes. You have to learn how to work with leather, wood and iron which are lost. So, we try to promote this know-how ».
More and more young farmers are favoring this return to basics. Between 400 and 500 cattle work on French farms today.
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