Nesi; we have a Red Poll bull that by rights, should go. There is no market for the calves here. NONE. We will take a hit or $.25 to $.50 per lb on the calves because they are red. But, He is very gentle, easy with the cows breeding and we use him on a few most years to keep him active. His saving grace..... he stops ANY AND ALL fights in the bull lot. No joke. If someone decides to be stupid when we put them back in, he just walks up to them, and must give them the evil eye.... because the ones getting into a shoving match will just quit. He will just walk around and no one seems willing to try his mettle. Have never seen him in a shoving match with anyone either. He just is like the policeman in there. They don't get to tearing up fences or anything because he seems to put a spell on them and they just behave. So he is still here....plus with prices so off, no sense in giving him away when he saves us fence repair bills....
I can see the idea of keeping an animal around if it has a purpose; like the steers you mentioned that will lead cattle etc. But, an unproductive 4 yr old heifer.... Naaah.