Cattle at the Kelley Farm represent improved breeds. The Shorthorn breed was popular during Kelley's era. Calves were raised to be milk cows or draft oxen. As part of the educational program at the Kelley Farm, students are taught about the chores of their historic counterparts. Young farmers were often given the responsibility of herding cattle and caring for the young stock. This experience trained farm children to be good farmers.

A young Durham bull calf will have a future as a draft ox when trained and paired with a similar steer. Historically young farmers trained steer calves to work in the fields. It often took four years for a pair of oxen to become a full-grown working team. There are few oxen left to work in the fields today, but the Kelley Farm uses oxen daily in farm work.