Steer "exposing himself"

[Farminlund]

I have a steer that is going to market tomorrow (at least that is what I think it is) & has/is exposing himself about ½ to ¾ of an inch. He was born on 9/13/04 & banded on 2/21/05 @ 450 lbs (~2 months ago @ 161 days old). I felt for a missed testical today & found nothing that seems to be obviously a ball (anything I felt was very small, soft, & more tubular than spherical). He is now 560 lbs (217 days) & shows no other bullish signs. I will get hurt at the market as he will be graded a stage, so this is a very disappointing situation. Does anybody have any insight as to why this is happening & what can be done in the future if I encounter this problem again?

 

[polledbull]

well he should have been cut at that age instead of banded . Just because he exposed his self dont mean that he will go as a stag. sometimes a steer will do that anyway. I think you will be alright at the market.

 

[Farminlund]

He was banded with the surgical tubing banding system designed for larger animals. Why do you say he should have been cut? Would that changed the outcome in this situation? All the other bulls were done the same way, no issues with them. Thanks for your words of encouragement relative to the market experience - hope you're right.

 

[Chuckie]

Farminlund, you are not the only one banding cattle at 5 or 6 months of age. It is done quite a bit around here. When they are banded, they are given a tetnus shot and they never go off the feed and never act like anything happened. When they are surgically cut, they go off the feed and you have a bigger chance of infection, mostly when flies are out. Of course, yours was banded in February, but most are banded in the fall while it is still warm. Still infection could happen since they usually are laying in some nasty areas when it is muddy. I saw some of the bulls they banded at 6 months, and the calves had a dry piece of leather hanging instead of the sack. Most fell off in a a couple of weeks. But none of the calves were sick or felt bad. I guess it is just each person's prefrence.

 

[jgn]

I have had a few do the same as they got older and they sold just fine. I think you should be okay. I band right after they are born, within three days and haven't had any problems. I just figure this was still a natural occurrence, wouldn't worry to much about it. Let us know how he does when he goes through.

 

[tapeworm]

Ive heard it all now...1/2 inch to 3/4 inch???? did you actually measure it???? A calf will be in the ring for a few seconds at a decent sale....doubt if any order buyers will notice. Just becasue you make a steer out of a calf doesnt mean his goober rots off to....it is still okay for him to have one...please dont try to band it!!!LOL

 

[cowgal]

:lol2:
Funny, tapeworm! Can I ask a question at the risk of sounding stupid (inevitable) without being slammed? (inevitable?)

If the goober is hanging out just the little bit that you say, it doesn't sound like a bonified erection (pardon my terms) To be honest, I don't generally hang around to watch our steers pee, but is this uncommon? ie. Do steers never show pink?

 

[sidney411]

From what I have seen with our calves, some just like to let it hang out in the breeze, and some never do. Guess their all different. I couldn't see where you would get docked in the sale barn for it though...

 

[dun]

Do you by any chance call him michael jackson?

dun

 

[sidney411]

only if he was playing with young steers :lol:

 

[Ryder]

only if he was playing with young steers :lol:

Sidney if you insist on carrying on that way I think you had beter go to the coffee shop where 'your kind' hangs out. And take Dun with you!

Substitute 'congregates' for 'hangs out'.

 

[sidney411]

If I remember correctly - you make a point to stop by every now and then, now don't ya? ;-) ;-) ;-)

 

[Farminlund]

did you actually measure it???? ...please dont try to band it!!!LOL

Accuracy dictates the trusty calipers - didn't band, just cut it! :lol:

I would have said the same thing a year ago, never paid much attention to such things unless the “pink” was extreme (& then it caught my eye). Our calves go to the local weekly state graded feeder sale directly off their ma’s, where they are scrutinized, inspected, & categorized – in short, each animal is graded for frame & flesh/meat quantity which subsequently determines the auction price paid per pen of cattle - or if your animal(s) is/are unfortunate not to be graded (due to many reasons including being a stag) are sold at auction individually at a server penalty.

Last year one of my steers did not grade because he “exposed himself” & thus must be a stag (I was observing from above so I did not see by how much). He brought about .15/lb less than what he would have had he graded (>$75). In that case, I checked my records & found that I had banded a bull with a single testical (obviously a serious mistake on my part) – I won’t band if I can only find one in the future (stays a bull or it gets the mascatone (sp)). So as one might imagine, my concern was based on not knowing how much exposure constitutes a “no-grade”. This current steer was showing just a little pink but due to my heightened awareness & firsthand knowledge of what exposure can cost you, I posted my question (glad it could provide a base for some humor).

The steer graded just fine as many of your replies suggested – he graded M#2 & brought 140/100 for a total of $750 (heifer's 1st calf).

 

[sidney411]

Thanks for explaining that further. I have never been to a sale around here where they sold like that. Most all of them go through the ring seperately in just a few seconds. So I didn't see where that would be a problem. I also don't see where they can say that a steer is a stag just because he is exposing himself. I've seen that behavior in some of my steers and bulls. I always figured it was a male thing and that they all would do it? Guess I learned something new.

 

[dun]

Thanks for explaining that further. I have never been to a sale around here where they sold like that. Most all of them go through the ring seperately in just a few seconds. So I didn't see where that would be a problem. I also don't see where they can say that a steer is a stag just because he is exposing himself. I've seen that behavior in some of my steers and bulls. I always figured it was a male thing and that they all would do it? Guess I learned something new.

I think claiming it's a stag is kind of like too much ear and straight bred Herefords around here. They sell for less because the buyers bid less. Not necesarrily anything wrong with any of them, but it's a way to shave a few bucks on the buying end.

dun