Taking my first Dexter steer down this morning

[littlecowfl]

We've raised out commercial cattle and a dairy steer. Since we've had dexters, we have been blessed by the heifer fairy. We did have one steer two years ago, but he was gentle and tame so he was donated to Maymont Park's childrens farm.

Now, we're sending Blake down. He just didn't look good enough to be a breeding bull when we evaluated him at 6 months. He's 31 months old. We were going to do this in November, but the processor was in the hospital and then he dropped a little weight over winter so we waited until he gained it back nicely. He looks really good now.

It's bittersweet because he went to the fair with us and has been handy for babysitting our baby bull. He's also the only Dexter we've ever had that figured out how to throw himself onto no climb fence and squish it down to escape. THAT won't be missed, LOL!

So, what should I expect from a steer his age when I pick up the freezer beef?

[lakeportfarms]

Expect me!

Well, Florida is a little far but I hear it's warm this time of year. A lot depends on the finishing and the processing. However, 31 months and you won't get any T-Bones for example. But if the fat cover is good and he can hang for a while, he'll taste great.

Most steers are stupid...and easy to send off to camp. We have one we're raising now like Blake, and we'll be sort of sad to see him go when it's time later this year.

[Dahdo]

Hans, I have to ask, why do you say "most steers are stupid"? I thought it was the testosterone that made us stupid. I would expect steers to be smarter if anything. I have two really smart steers right now that I am training. Haven't had a bull yet, so nothing to compare with, but I was just wondering...

[dexterfarm]

I know what you mean about steers. I think it is a hormone imbalance. I have one right now nice tame and mild but he will do what ever he wants to. He will walk through an eclectic fence. He was keeping our bull company for the winter until yesterday when he jumped a fence so he could go be with the other cows. He also competes with the heifers for dominance. So far I have not had a bull that has given me any trouble at all. My plan for this year is to keep all of them intact.

[littlecowfl]

The deed is done. I like the way this processor does the cuts. He really made the most of that Holstein steer, which isn't easy because they have so much bone. We had English cut roasts that came out very nice.

[littlecowfl]

I asked the butcher about it. He says he hangs them in very cold temps and pulls them down before they dry out. He watches them and says he can tell when it's time.

[lakeportfarms]

Dave,

Like Mike said, I think sometimes it may be related to some type of imbalance, maybe they are in some kind of perpetual state of childhood...lol. But most of all, I think that once the decision has been made to make a steer, especially at a young age, they are sort of ignored and not treated like your breeding animals, leading to stupid bovine behavior a lot of the time.

Obviously, when so much time is spent with them as oxen, they are not stupid and learn commands and do what you want them to do. But that would be the exception and not the rule, since most people don't raise steers as oxen or pets, so they're not emotionally invested with him.

So the interaction with people is more likely to develop behavior that people find acceptable. There are exceptions, we have a steer that is really a nice boy, and if we spent any time at all with him, he could easily be somebody's pet.

[littlecowfl]

I think steers, at least in our experience, are buttheads because of diet. The ones we sent down needed supplemental feed before slaughter (true grass-fed cannot be done on our land unless we are in the height of summer). That feed gives them excess energy, plus, they are penned up with a buddy to make sure they get their feed.

[hollydzie]

Alicia, is this steer a Dexter? I will be anxious to see what you get back, and how you like it.

We live in Florida too and are growing out a steer. I have no idea what to expect. We can not finish totally on grass either. Keep us posted as to what you get back and if you are satisfied.

Holly

[littlecowfl]

Hi there! Yep, he's a registered Dexter. In fact, I should probably cleanup my list of animals with the ADCA to account for the ones who were slaughtered.

Anyway, we have had steaks and burgers. They were very good. The butcher even remarked how tender they were when he was cutting them. He was also impressed at how much meat the steer yielded.

In fact, when I dropped him off, the butcher said it would be less beef than the last steer, so I didn't fully empty my freezer. That was a mistake. Not only did I get a lot more beef back when I picked him up, but suddenly I had over 100 lbs. of homeless beef. I filled our freezers full, then immediately loaded up in my car, called the local church, and headed that way. They had enough room and were supposed to provide food for a lot of very needy families the next day. The irony was that they didn't have much to give the families until we came by and stuffed their freezer full.

We cooked up about 20 hamburgers last weekend for a family reunion. Everyone was so impressed. They said it was the best burger they had ever had.