How were they used?
Oxen were used by several armies, including the British, French, Russian and Austro-Hungarian forces, to pull heavy wagons of supplies. While horses and mules did most of the war's hauling work, oxen were brought in specifically for the terrain those animals struggled with: thick mud, steep or rocky ground, and routes far from any road.
Why oxen instead of horses?
Oxen were far slower than horses and ate much more food, so armies didn't rely on them for everything. But their raw strength meant they could still drag heavy wagons and artillery through conditions that brought faster animals to a halt.
Conditions they faced
Life for a military ox was hard labour in a war zone: long days pulling enormous loads, exposure to shellfire and disease near the front line, and exhausting treks across broken ground. Thousands of horses, mules, donkeys and oxen were killed, wounded, or worn down by fatigue and disease during the war. Britain's Army Veterinary Corps treated sick and injured animals where it could, but a large number could not be saved.
Were they exploited?
There's a strong case for yes: oxen were made to labour for long hours in dangerous conditions, with no choice in the matter and no understanding of why. They were valued for what they could pull, not cared for simply for their own sake.
At the same time, armies did spend real effort keeping draught animals alive and working — veterinary hospitals existed, and a healthy ox was worth protecting. Whether that counts as "care" or just careful use of a valuable resource is worth deciding for yourself.
Interesting facts
- Oxen have been used as military draught animals since long before horses were bred for it — armies have leaned on their raw pulling power for thousands of years.
- An estimated 16 million animals of all kinds served in the First World War, from horses and mules to dogs, pigeons — and oxen.
- Oxen were sometimes the only option in places motor vehicles couldn't reach: swamps, mountains, and roads destroyed by shelling.
