Cut a bull calf for better taste?

widfam · #1 04/26/07, 07:34 AM

My heifer is finally getting ready to have her calf

If it is a bull we are planning to butcher it. I don't want to start a big debate on banding and cutting because I have already decided that we would have him cut so... My question is will it make a difference in the taste of the meat? My neighbor says it won't so just let him be and butcher him. My other neighbor says that it will grow off better as a steer then a bull. Just looking for some advice from someone that has been through this situation. Thanks

Terry W · #2 04/26/07, 08:31 AM

A neighbor of mine keeps all of his intact- they are butchered as bullocks, and the flavor seems good. They are kept separate from the bull-- in their own pasture, so the rivalry does not gete started-- and he will butcher anywhere from 6 months to three years old. Tender meat, too--so its the raising.

bqz · #3 04/26/07, 09:09 AM

Quote:

I don't want to start a big debate

Well you may have just started one,from what I've have learned , do what you think is best,I've heard it both ways ,cuts better ,cuts not better ,cut at 300-500lbs,on and on it go's. at the end of the day ,it's really your call.

To me "cut at 300-500lbs" seems to be the middle ground.I've heard a lot of folks do this.

65284 · #4 04/26/07, 10:48 AM

We have done it both ways and find absolutely no difference in taste. Our experience has been that they "do better", that is, grow faster as bulls. The principal reason for castrating bulls is to cut down on aggression among the animals in feed lots, and for the safety of the persons tending them. But, as others have already said , do what you are most comfortable with.

agmantoo · #5 04/26/07, 06:19 PM

Intact animals will definitely grow faster. Neutered animals do not exhibit the annoying habits of intact animals. I neuter as that is what the buyer wants. I produce feeder calves that are sent to feed lots.

widfam · #6 04/26/07, 09:32 PM

I guess maybe I was told wrong about the growing off aspect. I was told that they would grow faster as a steer and they would taste "strong" if left intact. So maybe I'll just let it alone and butcher when the time is right. I don't think I will have any problem with aggression as the others are fine around me. I only have 2 heifers and a bull. I would think as long as I butcher before he gets old enough to breed that the 2 bulls should get along fine. I also heard today from the guy down the road that he banded his 2 day old calf last spring and "they" fell off in about a week. That seems awful fast to me. Anyone have experience with banding and how long it takes for them to fall off?

sammyd · #7 04/26/07, 09:38 PM

seems quick...most times I can't even find the testes at 2 days and to have it fall off in a week is pretty fast as well.

JulieLou42 · #8 04/27/07, 01:17 AM

My bull calf was so rowdy, I'm glad we banded him before he was 2 weeks old...they fell off within the month.

He's still rowdy. He's been gaining weight at about 3# per day so far average, so what's this talk about castrated bulls doing poorly? Been with his mother till just a few days ago, when I decided that the family was going back on raw milk. He musta been taking 2 gals. per day from her, 'cause I'm getting near that on two milkings. Tonight was the first time he didn't put up a ruckus bawling while I milked...day #4. He's got 4 inch horns, so she's probably glad he's been taken off her now. I'm giving him daily alfalfa and COB[2:1 ratio in a #10 can] at milking time, to supplement his protein some...and to keep him quiet while I milk!