I didn’t look as I don’t need to they were steers, it’s a beef farm and not a dairy
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They’re steers.
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If and when you sell house , you moving closer to family Pete ?
Closer to family and closer to hospital.
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Did some trail work on a local trail yeasterday after the storm Amy visited last October.
Have to come by another day and do the rest. It is hot working in protective gear now.
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Mrs Pete and I were out celebrating our 28th wedding anniversary
Edit I forgot to mention one of us is extremely patient 
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Congratulations to you both.
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Ah the vagaries of local naming. I’m in UK and where I live we use the word bullock, you obviously live somewhere else, so steers it is. In UK there is a trend in some beef farms to not have bullocks but to rear what is known as “bull beef”, no parts cut off. The animals grow faster and therefore get to a marketable size quicker.
Congratulations both!
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These boys are cut early and fatten as steers, some of these guys weigh over 800kgs. I’m not a farmer (just know a lot of people that are) so I can’t tell you why they do it like this, I do know that they think steers are easier to manage than bulls or cows. Also thought my kangaroo meme would have given a clue as to my location.
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A bullock is, as Orac says, another name for a steer, i.e. a castrated bull. A herd of uncastrated bulls would be mayhem so most farmers will only keep one or two for breeding.
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Great photo.
My bestest wishes to you both
Ian
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That’s my understanding as well although some of the guys I know think cows are hard to manage, one who runs around 3000 head refuses to stock cows.
Well without cows there are no calves, bulls, or steers! Buying 3000 of them from other breeders won’t be cheap.
Think we do things differently here most around don’t breed their cattle they buy them as lots (often a full pen) at the sale yards fatten them up and sell to market. However my knowledge is limited but all the guys I know just run steers most for the export beef market.
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Yes, some farmers do that here in the UK. I never liked the way that it was as much to do with commodity trading that farming.
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Have some knowledge (but not a recent expert) In UK many dairy farmers breed cows to ensure continuity of animals to provide milk producers. Clearly some are born as males. Farmers then usually take one of three routes:
- Sell males calves almost immediately.
- Keep males (castrated) for some time until they are of a size that is saleable. Depends on whether they want to keep them to finish or if they want to sell them on a little younger/smaller for someone else to finish.
- Keep as full intact males. They grow quicker and can therefore be moved on quicker but do require more care with handling as they quickly become a bit boisterous due to testosterone.
Decision as to which route depends on availability of sheds, feed (either inside or external) and labour to do the animal husbandry.
Just a starter there are obviously more factors that come into play.
@Pete_the_painter - yep got a good clue as to location from your avatar. Mine has a similar geographical hint albeit I have moved a bit south in later life.
Back on track - I went for a lovely cool walk in Wendover Woods earlier today. Lots of lovely paths through a wide variety of different tree types, mostly deciduous although a bit of evergreen as well.
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Played my third day of football this week…started on Sunday with a tournament at Chelsea / Cobham training ground, local to home yesterday and today at Teddington…Officially knackered 
but still have a game tomorrow and then one on Saturday 
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Best wishes to you and Mrs Pete and many more to follow. 
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OK, so I failed my beef farmer application test!
P.S. I’ll have my vegan card rescinded for engaging in bovine japery. 
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