First steer butchering soon what can I expect?

[hollyrockranch]

Hi all, we are butchering our first Dexter steer soon he is looking meaty at 19 months, we plan on butchering when he is 22 months. What can we expect pound and product wise from him? He is a long legged Dexter and more on the beefy side. Helios his sire weighed 650 at 12 months if that helps. Thanks all the info helps.  

[zephyrhillsusan]

Sorry, hollyrockranch, I'm no good at estimating, and the two steers we've butchered (both bought) have varied greatly depending on genetics, but I can promise you you're looking at some tasty beef!

[Dahdo]

We have butchered several steers now. All but one were non-carriers and had hanging weights ranging from 453-495 lbs and were between 26-28 months old. all were grass finished. Packaged meat has been around 65-68 percent of the hanging weight, depending on how long it hangs and how we had it cut. I know you will enjoy it, there is nothing like raising your own healthy Dexter beef.

[hollyrockranch]

Thanks, for the insight. I am so excited  I cant weight to try the meat, the way folks talk about it being so tender and flavorful, yummy it sound delicious . It will be sad to say good by to fritz but we must stay strong sense Fritz is a steer after all. Is 22 months old enough or should we weight a little longer we are new at this?

[zephyrhillsusan]

When we butchered our first steer, our butcher advised us to go by conditions more than age. He was just about the age of yours. Our butcher advised us to feed him hay for a month after the grass quit growing (grassfed, not supplemented at all), then butcher him. I think the rationale was to give him time to process the last of the grass. It certainly worked because he had nice yellow fat. Unfortunately, they forgot to get a hanging weight, so we didn't have any weight except final product.

Our butchers in this area don't have scales for live weight, so with the next steer we drove him through the co-op scale first, then weighed the trailer afterward to get his live weight.

[Dahdo]

We calve in April-May when the new grass is coming in here in western Oregon. This gives cows and calves a nice start on pasture, and also gives our steers, who are just turning 24 months, a chance to put on some good weight for 3-4 months before slaughter. We slaughter when the grass is starting to peter out in late July-early August because we want to the animal to be putting on weight, "on the gain", at slaughter. It's always hard to say good bye to these animals that you can't help but become close to as you care for them, but for me personally, it's the closure of the bargain we make: I'll give you the the best life possible in exchange for wholesome food for our family. I always thank them and stay with them on the day when our mobile slaughter guy comes. Sometimes it's harder than others if the steer has been one of those characters who always wants a scratch, but it's never easy. Best of luck.

[zephyrhillsusan]

We lost our favorite butcher when he went out of business. Last year we used a new one to us, but probably the best-known one around here and the one everyone recommends. We had to take the steer in the night before, and he was put in a pen on concrete (smaller than a box stall) with a big Angus on either side. The guy wasn't even going to give him water until I asked for some, then he did give him a 5-gallon bucket. I was very, very unhappy about the whole thing from the steer's point of view. No one I talked to knew of any other option, but yesterday I found an online list of Georgia butchers and found one just 17 minutes from home. I called and talked to him, and he was glad to have me visit at any time, so I went over right then. It was kill day, but he didn't mind me coming; I decided no more taking an animal to a place I hadn't seen, no matter how many other people recommend them!

He said they allow people to bring animals the night before, but they are willing for us to bring them the morning of kill day. I asked about food and water, and he said they are required by law to give the animals water. He said it's easier for them if the animals haven't eaten the night before, but they are perfectly willing for us to have them on pasture. I told him I'd even be willing to pay a higher kill fee (the grass and hay mess up their drains), but he said there was no need. As we talked, I explained what happened last year and that I really, really want the animal's last moments not to be full of fear and stress. He said that he would be glad for us to park the trailer off to the side and give the steer some grain, and he'll come on the trailer and kill him right there so he won't smell the blood, then we can back the trailer over and he'll pull him off. I realize there may be some damage to the carcass this way and some loss of meat, but I really don't care. He's done this before, and I really appreciate that he's willing to take the animal's well-being into consideration. Interestingly enough, I realized from reading the online list that the other place is considered "exempt" and is not state-inspected like this place is. The other guy really didn't want to hang the steer for more than a week (before he knew what kind of fat cover he would have), but this guy said their standard is 2 weeks unless there's a lack of fat cover.

I wish like everything that we had mobile butchers around here, Dahdo! There just isn't enough demand in our area, and I don't know if there ever will be. The mindset here is quite stuck in the past with very little thought to animal welfare.

[Fran]

Sounds like you have found an ideal place to take yours too!!

[hollyrockranch]

Hi all, I have a up date: We just used a weight tape on Fritz to day, and it said 943lb and he is considered fleshy (properly finished) by the tape, he is 19 months old now. I hope this gives you a little more info. Thank you all, I am trying to see what kind of freezer space I will need to keep the meat.

[zephyrhillsusan]

Our Dexter steers haven't been near that big, but a large chest freezer is more than adequate to hold all the meat with some space left over.