Riding Steers Forum

Well I guess this fits in here. I have a discussion topic. Okay here is the question: When breeding an animal for a riding steer, what characteristics and qualities would you look for? Okay so basically what I am saying is 'how do we get the best animal with conformation to suit the purpose of a riding steer?

good head carriage..

i think.. that some indicus breeding could be handy bacuse it produces a 'wither'.. good for saddle fit.

a common breed.. so public realise its not just specialised breeds



(just a few thoughts for the moment.. will add more later)

Oh that is a good start Lauren.
I would like to add...
good temperment
strong legs and feet
good hooves
shorter backs
small udder

Well what about a good neck?

good hooves and legs and good temperament for me, number 1 priority.

Speed may also be a good thing, apparently the old sussex oxen here in britain were spritely enough to trot in harness - that'd be cool!

Totally and yes, Shelley, a good, strong neck too.

Yay I got one right!! LOL But speed would be good I think.

In future I really hope there's some breeding going on for these aspects, although i america you are spoilt - you have sussex oxen being used for draught, and the chianinas in new england if you wanted to travel far enough! also the texas longhorns!

Yeah.. i think .. apart from the horns Longhorns are a very appropriate breed for riding. They seem to have all these characteristics!

Well I don't know who would wnat to, but you could alway make them get polled, the longhorns, but that's crazy!

whats crazy is being killled by horns..

im not a fan of horns.. pretty or not.

My take on it is that if you have an animal that nasty, they'll kill you with or without horns anyway. Horns don't make them nasty, and given their weight and strength, they don't need them to do damage! I'd be totally happy if angus and mush were horned...wish they were in fact.

Yea.. i dont think theyd ever do it on purpose.. but one annoying fly and they could hit u accidently... they can hurt other cattle... they appear more intimidating to public.. just a bunch of reasons but really its down to personal experience and preference... i just prefer dehorned.. or even better.. polled. Just the way that i am.

Well I don't really care, but Longhorns were meant to have horns cause their name. But I agree all personal opinion and likes.

Well I believe a polled longhorn (or dehorned) is wrong! I use to want horns... I still like to look at them, but after Fuzz, I kinda don't want horns anymore. When Tuff was licking his back the other day, I am like if he would have been a longhorn I would have been hit. And also as Lauren said, the public isn't as afraid of them when they have no horns. I believe polled is the best... dehorning sucks. And I do know a couple of guys working on Polled Holsteins, so that would be really cool!