Butchering Age

[bantams]

I have a Milking Shorthorn steer who will be two years old in September. We are keeping him grassfed - he has never had any grain and never will. Although he is really big right now, he is not beefy. He is probably 56-59 inches at the shoulder and 1,100 pounds or more (I'll measure him tomorrow). Will he ever become "beefy" on grass alone since he is a dairy breed?
At what age should we butcher him? This fall, or wait until next spring or fall?

Thanks!
Kelsey

[Up North]

Put in freezer as soon weather cools enough for butchering. Start raising next one. Schedule appointment at butcher shop ASAP.

[Ronney]

Kelsey, you can hang him up any time from now on if you have good grass and he's not stressed for feed - what we call "on the rise".

A dairy steer is never going to attain that beefy look that goes with the Angus, Hereford etc. but he should still be nicely covered with hips, ribs and pin bones all but invisible and the brisket looking plump.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[bantams]

I measured the steer this morning. He is 59.5 inches at the shoulder and 1353 pounds according to (http://farmca.com/weight.html). His girth is 79.5 inches.

Here are some photos:

[savinggrace]

Pretty!



I say this fall as well.

[Up North]

From the pics looks like he has very good condition. For a dairy steer I don't think he could get much fatter. I'd be making that appointment now. He'll make some good tasting beef!

Heather

[dezeeuwgoats]

That's a fine-looking animal. Good job! Sure is pretty. I'd say he's ready to go in. Are you going to save the hide?

Niki

[uncle Will in In.]

If he was standing in about a foot of straw bedding, he would look a lot beefier. Years ago the beef cattle people who wanted to show off their beefy bulls or steers always took their picture standing knee deep in straw.

[Patt]

That really is a pretty breed! I would put him in the freezer asap.

[Ronney]

Excellent condition Kelsey and ready to go. You've also proven that an animal can be finished to a high standards on grass.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[Up North]

AH DANG KELSEY- This is first time I saw your pics- You shoulda left the nuts on that one LOL. For a MS, he'd a made a decent HERD SIRE. He's almost too pretty to eat. Well Done.. cheers

[bantams]

Thanks for all the compliments! We'll have the mobile butcher come this fall.
Niki, I think we will try saving the hide. My sister has done some taxidermy so I'll see if she can figure out a way (if we can't get the butcher to do it).
Up North, I would have kept T-Bone as a riding steer if he had the temperment, but he is just too high strung. We got him from Rosecrest Dairy in Chehalis, WA (360-740-8988) if you are interested. I think they are the only all-MS dairy in WA.

Here's another photo.



Kelsey

[agmantoo]

Fine looking animal! The picture of the area of the pasture he is currently in indicates that you may soon be needing more grazing area and/or the existing pasture needs a rest to recover. I would process the animal as soon as my needs dictated.

[crowinghen]

Kelsey,
I think I have a book on tanning or preserving hides-- I'll see if I can't dig it up for you- I used to have a wallet made out of hide that looked like his. It had the hair on it, and I think it was a simple design- whip-stitched edges... If you want I'll take a look. You migh have to pay more to keep the hide, because the butcher would normally sell it I think.

Cheers,
Susie
Ps I PM'd you

[susieM]

He looks good enough to eat!

[dezeeuwgoats]

Kelsey;

I wrote down the information - I'm driving up to Washington here in a about four weeks. I'm hoping to end up in the northwest someday.......lots of family up there.

Sincerely - good job on that steer! I can't wait to go where the grass actually grows, lol.

Niki

[bantams]

We moved him to the neighbor's 2.5 acre pasture. Hopefully we'll be able to keep him there until butchering time.



As you can see, the grass is a lot nicer!

Kelsey

[Up North]

Thanks for the source Kelsey- but I better pass. Most folks would tell you that there's enough "BULL" around my place allready,LOL.

[dezeeuwgoats]

Kelsey -sorry to go off topic but...... How much rain do you get where you live? I'm going to be moving to the northwest and am doing lots of research right now about rainfall - and trying to see pictures to get an idea of what vegetation the local rainfall supports.

Being an Arizonan not sure how much rain I could take - but I do want grass for my animals!

Niki

[animalfarmer]

Nice looking animal.Send us some pictures of him when you slaughter him both hanging,and his finished carcass and cuts.Best of luck.