steer

A steer is a male bovine that has been castrated, typically before reaching sexual maturity, and kept for beef production. It differs from a bull (an intact male) and a cow (a mature female), while a heifer is a young female that has not yet calved. Steers are usually raised for meat rather than breeding.

Castration reduces testosterone, influences growth patterns and fat distribution, and can improve temperament and carcass quality. The procedure is commonly performed at a few days to several months old, depending on breed and management system. Steers are generally finished in feedlots or pasture-based systems and are marketed once they reach desired weight, often between 1,000 and 1,400 pounds live weight, depending on market and region.

In addition to the animal sense, steer is a verb meaning to guide or direct movement or course, as in steering a vehicle or ship. It can also function as a noun referring to the act of steering or to the equipment used to steer, such as a steering wheel or helm. The term appears in other contexts as well, including phrases like steerage, historically a class of passenger accommodation on ships, derived from the practice of steering.