I HAVE A STEER WHICH IS NOW 26 MONTHS OLD ,I STILL HAVE SOME BEEF IN MY FREEZER FROM THE LAST ONE TO GO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CATTLE MAY LOSE CONDITION OVER THE WINTER , SO I AM NOT SURE WHEN IT'S BEST TO TAKE HIM TO THE ABATOIR. MY CATTLE STAY OUTSIDE ALL THROUGH THE WINTER ALTHOUGH I DO SUPPLEMENT THEIR FEED (GRASS) WITH HAY AND A SMALL AMOUNT OF CATTLE NUTS. THEY DO HAVE ACCESS TO A COVERED BARN BUT ONLY TEND TO COME IN FOR FEEDING. TIM Z
Well the best beef comes from grass, and there's no point in feeding nuts to maintain condition IMHO, so I would be looking to send him when the grass stops growing. I am assuming, of course, that he is in good condition after a summer at grass?
If you think you'll run out of meat during Winter, why not kill him at that time? Even if he just holds his weight, it'll be enough to fill the freezer.
I have exactly the same problem. I've decided to slaugher just before Christmas and will probably bring him in a month or so before this. Really he needs to go until next June/July but the reality is that slaughter over 30 months is so difficult that it's not worth the bother. It's a shame our society can't get an exemption to the 30 month rule (as far as it applies to which slaughterhouse can be used) like the Highland Cattle society have managed to achieve.
