which cows are slaughtered for the steaks in a supermarket, male or female?

Question

I'm a butcher and I'm confused. I thought the males were bulls. But bull meat is too tough to eat and we grind it for burger. There's no way it is used for steaks. And wouldn't the females be used for milking. What the hell are we eating?

Answer 1

Both genders are slaughtered for steaks. You are confusing dairy cows with beef cows, there is a difference. Some breeds of cattle are raised as beef cattle. This includes, but is not limited to: Angus, Gelbvieh, Red Angus, Charloise(sp?), Limousine, Hereford as well as mixes of all of the above. There are probably some I have forgotten, but these are the main breeds from around here. Calves of both sexes are raised on ranches and farms. There is generally one herd sire (bull) to every twenty head of cows. When they are old enough (around 3 weeks or more) the calves are "worked". We brand, vaccinate, ear tag, and the male calves are castrated (they are then called steers). Only a very good bull calf would be left a bull to eventually become a herd sire. When they are around 9 months, they are sold. Both sexes eventually end up in a feedlot where they are fed until they are fat enough to go to slaughter. There is a small preference of steers over heifers because they gain weight slightly faster, so a steer would bring a little more money when we sell them. Dairy type cattle are butchered but a Holstein takes a long time to feed out to be fat enough to eat. You are right bulls (and older cows, too) are too tough generally to be anything but hamburger. Hope this clears up your confusion

Answer 2

We are mostly eating steers(castrated males) and heifers under 20 months of age(mostly even younger). As you should already know these are the most likely to contract BSE(mad cow disease). But, they are also the most tender and are more likely to reach into the Choice quality grade. Cows are females that have given birth and bulls are uncastrated males mostly keep for breeding. The cows and bulls we kill are mostly cull cows or bulls(more being beef bulls since there are fewer dairy bulls since more artificial insemination is used). Culls animals are the ones that are too old, unhealthy, or just don't have the genetic potential for producing beef calves or milk.

Answer 3

Both are able to be slaughtered but, the male is slaughtered when it is too old or if it is used to buck out in a rodeo and it is too old to do that. The female is slaughtered when she can no longer give birth or she can no longer give milk.

Answer 4

Get an education. Bulls, steers, heifers and calves are butchered. Calf meat is called veal.

Answer 5

I thouught a male cow was a bull anywayzzzz i am guessing it is a female sweetie

Answer 6

All cows are female, but both gender of cattle are used for beef, cows, heifers, steers, and bulls.

Answer 7

The female. The males are needed more for reproduction, so that's what you find in your restaurants.

Answer 8

i would guess male. the female cow would probably be more tough since she has to give birth and is probably more active.

Answer 9

Both are slaughtered for steaks.

Answer 10

most generally, males. (steers, not bulls) Of course you can eat either.