Why Steers for Beginners
Many people feel a true cow experience includes having baby calves and watching them grow. Who doesn’t want a little bundle of furry cuteness to raise? There may be nothing more adorable than a mini-Galloway calf, but there is a lot more to it than some folks realize. Novices will have a less stressful and more enjoyable experience learning about cattle when they go through the learning curve with the easiest version…. steers.
Why are steers easier? The simple answer is fewer hormones. Like all animals, cattle are driven by natural instincts. Open (unbred) heifers cycle every 30 days or so, and hormones spike during this time. Sometimes this has no obvious impact on behavior. Sometimes it makes them irritable, difficult, and loud. It depends on the cow. Bulls are naturally obsessed with breeding heifers. It’s their entire purpose, and they are not content if they never get to do their job. People with heifers and/or bulls must have tight fencing and secure facilities. When a heifer cycles, other bulls nearby will notice. If there is any gap or weakness in the fence, the bull will find it and break through. Heifers begin to cycle long before they are grown enough to safely carry a calf, so accidental breeding can have grave consequences. Owning heifers requires vigilance and good facilities.
Fewer hormones also result in more even temperament. Steers are not affected by the hormonal cycles that heifers experience, nor are they thrown into hormonal frenzy when heifers cycle around them. They can easily be pastured with either bulls or heifers because they compete with neither. Heifers are genetically programmed to bond with and protect their offspring. Even when they don’t have a calf, there is something innately reserved in their personality for that purpose. Laid-back, outgoing friendliness does not come as naturally to them. Nature makes them wary of everything, especially when they have a calf, and it can change their personality. Steers, on the other hand, have no inhibition or instinctual reserve related to reproduction. They are nearly always content since they aren’t worried about natural cow duties, making them free to focus on pleasantries. All you need to do is be the bearer of good things, and they will bond easily. Steers enjoy social interaction with a wide variety of animals and people. This makes them a perfect fit for small hobby farms with a handful of varied animals. We have placed them successfully with chickens, goats, sheep, horses, dogs, pigs, etc. If plenty of personal interaction is what you want with your mid-size mini, a steer is by far the most likely to provide it.
Finally, fewer hormones mean easier care, less potential for reproductive health complications, and longer lifespan. With a steer, there is no concern about fertility cycles, keeping out the neighbor’s bull, udder problems, etc. A steer needs hay or grass, plenty of fresh water, shelter from the sun, and companionship. That’s about it. Basic health maintenance, such as fly control, can usually be done freestanding without the need for a head gate. A steer costs significantly less than breeding stock to acquire and less to maintain.
Mistakes and accidents are bound to occur as beginners learn about cows, and a steer is the safest, hardiest, easiest, and least expensive way to go through the learning curve. They are also the most likely to provide the relationship experience you want from your mini. Steers are consistently the most affectionate, outgoing, and friendly of our Galloways. You’ll be able to gain stress-free experience and get to know this amazing breed. Then you can expand your herd and start your breeding program with confidence. Even then, you’ll appreciate your steer…. they make great babysitters when the calves come along. Contact us if you’d like more information or to inquire about availability.
