# Cattle-Steers vs. Bulls/Cows **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961 "2003-07-25T21:09:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/1 "2003-07-25T21:09:40Z")
I was wondering. I’ve heard of steers and then I’ve heard of Bulls and Cows. I know a bull and a cow are basically the respective male and female cattle(and other species as well). What’s the difference? Not knowing too much about Bovines, I don’t know they are the same things, a commerical designation(different commerical applications for same animal) or two distinct species? Are steers just cattle in general? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/2 "2003-07-25T21:15:46Z")
Did you consider using a dictionary? Main Entry: 1steer Pronunciation: 'stir Function: noun Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stEor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox Date: before 12th century 1 : a male bovine animal castrated before sexual maturity – compare STAG 3 2 : an ox less than four years old –from [m-w.com](http://m-w.com) ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/3 "2003-07-25T21:17:56Z")
I don’t know if I understood your question… Cattle: Any of various mammals of the genus Bos, including cows, steers, bulls, and oxen, often raised for meat and dairy products. ## Excerpted from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition Copyright © 1992 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Electronic version licensed from Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products N.V., further reproduction and distribution restricted in accordance with the Copyright Law of the United States. All rights reserved. Now the difference between Cow and Heifer = a heifer has not been bred. The difference between a Bull and a Steer = Steers cannot breed (cause they’ve had their testicles removed) ---
**Author:** ![MajorTom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@MajorTom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MajorTom)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/4 "2003-07-25T21:50:42Z")
To add a little info. Bulls are castrated to make them steers. This keeps their minds “off the ass and on the grass.” ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/5 "2003-07-25T21:58:30Z")
Steers sing at a higher pitch. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/6 "2003-07-25T23:26:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Earl Snake-Hips Tucker \* > \*\*Did you consider using a dictionary? > > Main Entry: 1steer > Pronunciation: 'stir > Function: noun > Etymology: Middle English, from Old English stEor young ox; akin to Old High German stior young ox > Date: before 12th century > 1 : a male bovine animal castrated before sexual maturity – compare STAG 3 > 2 : an ox less than four years old > > –from [m-w.com](http://m-w.com) \*\* _Beats head againest wall in realization_ Stupid, Stupid, Stupid! Sorry about wasting your time by asking that. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/7 "2003-07-25T23:34:04Z")
[quotes] Bulls are castrated to make them steers. [/quotes] Minor correction: bobby calves/poddy calves etc are castrrated to make steers. Steers are castrated before maturity. Bulls are castrated to make them bullocks. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/8 "2003-07-26T00:15:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MajorTom \* > \*\*To add a little info. Bulls are castrated to make them steers. This keeps their minds “off the ass and on the grass.” \*\* I love that … also I believe it makes the meat more tender. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/9 "2003-07-26T11:39:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DeVena \* > Now the difference between Cow and Heifer = a heifer has not been bred. Excuse the nitpick, but I believe a heifer has _been_ bred, but has not bred [any calves of its own]. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/10 "2003-07-26T12:05:36Z")
Since it appears to be invalid: Main Entry: 1breed Pronunciation: 'brEd Function: verb Inflected Form(s): bred /'bred/; breed·ing Etymology: Middle English breden, from Old English brEdan; akin to Old English brOd brood Date: before 12th century transitive senses 1 : to produce (offspring) by hatching or gestation 2 a : BEGET 1 b : PRODUCE, ENGENDER \ 3 : to propagate (plants or animals) sexually and usually under controlled conditions \ 4 a : BRING UP, NURTURE \ b : to inculcate by training \\*\* 5 a : 4MATE 3 b : to mate with : INSEMINATE c : IMPREGNATE 2\*\* 6 : to produce (a fissionable element) by bombarding a nonfissionable element with neutrons from a radioactive element intransitive senses 1 a : to produce offspring by sexual union b : COPULATE, MATE 2 : to propagate animals or plants ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2003, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cattle-steers-vs-bulls-cows/190961/11 "2003-07-26T12:19:06Z")
I stand corrected then. My desk dictionary doesn’t include that definition.