On Bulls and Steers

It's calving time for many herds. One job of the rancher is deciding which of the bull calves deserve to be bulls and which should be steered (castrated). I've noticed numerous posts in various cattle Facebook groups asking how to market bulls calves because they don't sell easily and a few posts asking how breeders determine which bulls to steer.

The short answer is: steer them all.

A somewhat longer answer is that the market is saturated with bulls, many of which are not breeding candidates but are still being offered for sale that way. Unless your bull calf is exceptional, steer him. A steer is a calmer, safer animal not being driven by hormones. Steers are the preferred option for pasture pets and beef alike.

An even more detailed answer follows:

The herd bull is a pivotal part of any breeding program. If you're choosing a bull for your own herd, you obviously want the best one you can get your hands on. If you're selling a bull to someone, your reputation is on the line and you want your customer happy. 

Let's take a look at how to decide if a calf deserves to stay a bull or should become a steer. 

Genetics: What is behind your bull calf? What does the sire look like? Does he have good structure, good feet? What is he producing? I personally prefer "heifer-safe" bulls - ones that have consistently low birth weights. 

What about the dam? Does she have good traits? Look at her udder and milk production. Is she able to keep her calf well-fed without turning into a bag of bones herself? Your bull obviously won't have an udder but all of his daughters will and that will partly be inherited from the bull side. It's usually recommended to steer the cow's first bull calf until she can prove herself as being a cow that can produce good bulls.

Look further back in the pedigree. What animals are back there?

Does your breed have recommended genetic testing? Herefords (and miniature Herefords) do. What are the results of genetic testing on your calf?

Physical Traits of Your Calf:

A bull should have a masculine appearance. He should be big, well muscled, with good width and depth of body. 

Is your bull polled or horned? In some breeds there's only one option, but in breeds that have both, you or your customer may prefer one or the other. In Herefords, polled bulls are more sought after. Especially if they are homozygous polled - meaning they cannot produce horned calves.

Watch your calf's gait (how he walks) and how he stands. Look at his leg structure. Improper structure on a calf is only going to get worse when he starts packing on weight. It'll get even worse when he's in the breeding pasture. Look closely at your bull's feet. They should be wide and correctly shaped. When your calf is fully grown, those feet are going to have to support a lot of weight. Even mini bulls are bulky. 

Next, get up close and personal with your bull calf. Check his penis attachment. It should be well attached to the abdomen, not loose and dangly. At best, poor attachment will mean he has a hard time "hitting his target". At worst, it can lead to injury preventing your bull from breeding. Check the scrotum. It should have proper attachment. Ensure there are 2 relatively equal sized testicles. 


Below is a visual comparison of two bulls. They are 1 month apart in age, with the left-hand bull being older. You can see that the bull on the left has a narrow, long face. His body is extremely narrow and shallow. The bull on the right has more masculine features. The right-hand bull is wider with better depth. This bull also has a thicker hair coat. The group photo shows that both bulls (still left and right as described here) have decent length, although the right-hand bull has slightly more length and a level topline.