When you got an ox, you have to focus on it real hard:P
Actually no idea why but it is easier to direct it with animal empathy.
I have also seen an ox enter a fight with a deer. The deer was winning:)
The ox attacked the deer, deer hits back, Ox lost 5 hp and ran from the deer, whereas the deer kept chasing it, was hillarious!
Also I think that is only the Krezk outpost, not actually Krezk yet, if i am not mistaken.
And actually if you buff up the ox as it is suggested, then folks would use it as a meat shield. For 80 gold something that has like 50-80 hp, str, would be too good on lower levels as a shield to waste. I would actually think you would see them be used in battles, because 80 gold for a distraction is not much.