Official AMZA Steer Breed Standard
7-17-2006
Conformation: Body parts should be in proportion relative to the size of the Steer, length of leg should be in relation to length, depth and width of bull. Steer should not appear to be a “dwarf”, nor should it appear to be excessively “leggy”. Steer should have moderate refinement of bone, not heavy boned or thin boned. Steers should appear strong and masculine, angular and athletic. Steers should have good muscling, not being fat or thin.
Breed character: Miniature Zebu Steers should always exhibit the more extreme zebu appearance that separates them from Bos Taurus cattle. Refined but masculine, angular, never square or boxy. Athletic and fluid in their movement.
Color: All colors are acceptable.
Hair Coat: Short, straight, dense and slick, never curly or excessive in length.
Size: Measured at the withers, or directly behind the hump, Ideal height is not to exceed 42”, there is no maximum as steers tend to grow larger than bulls when castrated, with no minimum.
Weight: Ideal weight of mature steers is 300 to 600 pounds.
Head: Coffin shaped skull, moderate of width and length. Not too wide or short. A chiseled appearance, with a convex profile, never dished. Eyes should be smoothly set into the skull, not protruding or “bug eyed”. Eyes should be almond shaped. Eyes and profile should be almost Egyptian in appearance. Mouth should be free of excess fleshing, clean and tight. Bulls should be masculine in appearance.
Ears: Moderate in length, leaf shaped with a pointed end, never round, not too long or too short, balanced in size in relation to the head, never pendulous or drooping. Ears should be held outwards or slightly upwards and not too forward. Ideal ear size is less than 9 inches long.
Horns: Balanced and symmetrical, any horn pattern is acceptable as well as naturally polled or de-horned. De-horned steers should be free of unsightly horn scurs.
Neck: Masculine, muscular and moderately long, strong, set high into the shoulder and withers with an upstanding appearance, never short or low set.
Dewlap: Moderate development, not too long to short, free of excessive fleshiness or folds.
Brisket: Smoothly laid into the chest floor, free of excessive fat, never bulging or protruding excessively.
Hump: Moderate to large and well developed, pronounced and balanced. Upright and firm, never leaning either left or right, placed directly above or slightly ahead of the withers. “Shark fin” like in appearance. Steers seldom develop the quantity of hump that bulls display.
Body: Steers should have moderate body length, not too long or too short, deep in the heart girth with a slight increase in depth of body from the heart girth into the rear barrel and flank. Ribs should be well sprung and deep, never thin or “slab sided” with adequate body capacity, proportionate relative to the size of the animal.
Top Line: Back should be straight and level in the chine and loin with a natural slope to the rump from hip to pin bones. Rump should be sloping with a smooth, round appearance.
Hindquarters: Round and full, muscular but not meaty with moderate width in the pin bones. Moderate width in the escutcheon carrying down through the hocks.
Tail: Smoothly set and high at the rump, long and slender lacking kinks or crooks. Switch should be long and full, hanging below the hocks.
Legs and feet: Medium length legs proportionate and relative to body size, not too long or too short, strong and straight with short, strong pasterns. Rear legs should be angular, in-curving thighs when viewed from the side. Hooves should be strong and hard with equal halves and a moderate cleft between hooves.
Testicles: None, steers must be castrated.
