Processing in the summer

[littlecowfl]

Down here in the South, I think the heat and bugs affect the weight of the cattle in the summer. Some, like most of my cows, are butterballs and seem impervious, but our steer is not filling out enough. He looked ready in May, but I wanted to wait just a little longer because he was 23 months old. I should have sent him. He thinned out as the temps went up and grew taller. Now, I have to wait until he fills out again this fall. He'll be 26 or 27 months old when he finally goes down. The stinker.

The last summer steer we sent down had a lower yield than the ones we send during other seasons. Anyone else found this to be true with their summer steers?

[otf]

I'm noticing it a little bit with my steer too, but I don't usually take anything in until it's 28-29 months of age anyway (I try to keep it under 30 months). I usually like to wait until colder weather because we're an hour from the processor and I don't like bringing meat home when the weather's warm. I think I got off topic a bit, didn't I?

[littlecowfl]

No, that's quite alright. I worry about traveling in the heat with beef, too.

Do you know what the average age for processing a Dexter steer?

[otf]

It seems that many folks are processing them at younger ages, similar to commercial breeds (about 18 months?). I don't consider Dexters to be "fast" food in that sense. Some think that chondro positive are ready at 24 months. I think chondro positive appear to be physically ready then, but I usually have a long-legged animal for beef. Hey, I just thought of something. I'll post a question on Facebook and see how people respond, okay?

[otf]

I did put something up on Facebook (Dexter Cattle Enthusiasts) and quite a few people have responded. Are you on Facebook? (In some ways I'm almost embarrassed to ask you that cause FB isn't one of my favorite places to go! There's no way to track anything there...you write something and there is no reliable means of finding it ever again.)

[littlecowfl]

Nope, not on Facebook. Anything interesting as far a age of processing? We like them a bit older, too. That is very interesting about short legged steers being ready earlier. We have one to try next year/

[otf]

littlecowfl, here are the responses (in months); it seems to me this is earlier than it used to be; would that possibly be due to commercial cattle influence? My personal belief is that grass-fed only would take longer, but I provide grain also. It's uncertain why people use a certain time frame. I just don't know, but maybe this gives you some idea.

2nd autumn (my comment: this will vary depending on when the animal is born)
5-7 (veal), 14, 24-30
24-28
27
24-30
22-24
28-24
20
28-30. 21, 24, 30
18-20
24-26
18-22
16-21
26
9-10 (veal)
20
24
26
18
24-36
20-26
24
27-30

[littlecowfl]

Perhaps it's due to a mixture of personal preference and cost savings. We like bigger steaks, so we'll stick with later time frame (24-28 months).

[Pinevalleydexters]

We processed our steer in May, before the summer heat, he was 26 months and his hanging weight was 420#. He was only grass fed and he had nice marbling. 

[otf]

Off topic, but just want to say how nice your avatar is, Pine Valley....the drawing....unique....your cows?

[legendrockranch]

Off topic also agree about Pinevalleys avatar, it beautiful and unique.

Barb

[littlecowfl]

OTF, thanks for gathering that age of processing information. I wonder at what point do the size of the steaks grow only negligibly?

I was only short a couple of classes for my animal science degree. I really wish I would've taken that class affectionately known as "live and dead". You studied the live animal early in the week and reviewed the carcass after slaughter later. If anyone lives near a land grant/ag university, see if you can audit that class! I'll be checking for it near me. Dead useful class...hehehe..

[littlecowfl]

Hehehe! I made a new thread under Photo Gallery to try to flush out our artist friends....

Hope Pinevalleydexters chimes in!

[Deleted]

Oh, I love cows! They are quite cute. I even somehow arranged role-playing games with cows It was very interesting and fun. I got a tangible pleasure)