An Alberta Holstein is the world’s tallest living steer
Canada has another entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Standing 1.95 metres tall (six foot five), an eight-year-old Alberta Holstein named Beef is the world’s tallest living steer.
To put his size into perspective, Beef is the same height as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns, Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton, and Chris Bassitt, a starting pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays.
He also weighs about 2,400 pounds (1,100 kg), roughly the same as a Mazda Miata.
Beef’s entry into the record books started a few years ago with his owner Jasmine Entz, whose family runs Triple H Farms in Vulcan, Alta.,
“In 2023, Guinness had named a steer in the U.S. as the tallest living steer at 6’1 (1.85 metres),” Entz told Farms.com. “And at that time Beef was already taller than that.”
The previous record holder, Romeo, lives on the Welcome Home Animal Sanctuary in Creswell, Ore. As of last May, Romeo is listed at 6’4 (1.94 metres).
Someone shared an article about Romeo with Entz on Facebook, and that’s when she decided to get Beef his due.
So, she sent Guinness an application.
“I heard back saying I was approved to attempt the record,” she said. “Guinness sent me a book of guidelines, and I took all the video evidence that was required. You send everything in, and they approve you from there.”
From the time Entz sent the first email to the time Guinness contacted her with Beef’s world record, about eight months had passed.
He’s been the record holder since December 18, 2023.
Entz remembers opening the record confirmation email from Guinness.
“It was wildly exciting,” she said. “To be in the book and see us in there is a really neat experience.”
Entz knew Beef before he became a global superstar.
Beef with his owner, Jasmine Entz (Guinness World Records photo).
While working at a dairy in Lethbridge in 2017, Entz had an idea that required a bovine participant.
“I had this dream of having a Holstein steer I could ride,” she said.
Her employer let her take Beef home as a calf, and when he was two years old, he was broke to ride.
She achieved her goal of riding him, for about a year.
But then he got too big over the winter.
“I wouldn’t dare try to ride him now,” she said. “I don’t have any horse tack that fits him now that he’s a giant, and I wouldn’t be comfortable up that high without some sort of saddle.”
A burly boy like Beef needs a hefty haul of hay to satisfy his formidable frame.
He eats about 100 pounds (45 kg) of hay each day.
And, like humans, steers aren’t immune to comments about their bodies.
“I get a lot of comments about how underweight he is and how he needs to be fatter,” Entz said. “People don’t understand that the heavier he gets, the more stress it puts on his joints. For his size, he is healthy and doing very well.”
If Beef’s sudden celebrity status puts ag in the spotlight, Entz is happy to help tell that story too.
“I’m a big advocate for the dairy industry because there’s a lot of slander online,” she said. “So, any opportunity I have to have a conversation with people about what the life of a dairy bull calf looks like, I’ll take it.”