The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: Hilarysmum on January 21, 2011, 05:43:59 pm

Title: age to become a beef steer
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 21, 2011, 05:43:59 pm
Sorry in advance for my stupidity I know very little about cows.  At what age does a veal calf become a beef steer.  Is there an optimum age or weight?
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: Rosemary on January 21, 2011, 05:50:21 pm
I think a calf would be killed for veal at about 6 months old; a steer would finish at about 24 months depending on breed. Some traditional breeds like Highlanders was be 30 months or more before they are ready for the butcher.

I'm sure others will have more information.
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: Hilarysmum on January 22, 2011, 10:25:52 am
No thats wonderful thanks.  Friends were killing out their 10 month old calves, OH wont touch veal.  Trying to decide whether or not I can buy some beginning to think not. 
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: robert waddell on January 22, 2011, 10:41:37 am
there is different aspects to veal      what used to be veal (white)was produced from calves that were fed milk only and kept in crates     
this practise has been banned and it is ros'e veal that is produced calves fed on milk with supplementary hard feeding reared in batches
the transition from veal to beef would take place when no milk was fed in there diet giving a suitable time lapse for the veal to convert to beef
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: Rosemary on January 22, 2011, 11:24:47 am
     
this practise has been banned and it is ros'e veal that is produced calves fed on milk with supplementary hard feeding reared in batches

Calf crates are banned in the UK but not, I think, on the continent. Hence animal welfare concerns about live export of calves from the UK to Holland etc.

Rose veal is lovely. We bought some last year from www.sunnysidefarm.biz (http://www.sunnysidefarm.biz) They use bull calves from the dairy industry that would probably otherwise be shot at birth. They kill them at 8 months but they are raised on grass in summer. Actually, buying humanely prodced veal is a positive thing in terms of animal welfare. It's no different to eating lamb at six months or a pig at eight months.
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: belgianblue on January 22, 2011, 06:43:02 pm
an male calf is an bull
get vet out cut its nuts off
bull turns into steer.
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: princesspiggy on January 23, 2011, 12:14:36 pm
morally there is a big difference to eating a young calf that has had a normal life, just shorter than average, than an animal kept in a crate. i saw on tv once , the french eating suckling pigs, it was quite a negetive programme because of the issue of piglets dying so young, but im thinking that animals are killed at certain times for the quality of theyre meat, not on how long theyre lifes have been for sentimental reasons.
iv never had veal but if it was outdoor raised in good conditions, or if i raised it myself, i dont think id say no. what age are suckling beef cows weaned from milk?
Title: Re: age to become a beef steer
Post by: Rosemary on January 23, 2011, 02:31:28 pm
Beef calves from the suckler herd will probably be about 18 months to 24 months old at slaughter, maybe a bit older, depending on breed and gender.