Official AMZA Breed Standard for Steers
Conformation
Body parts should be in proportion relative to the size of the bull, length of leg should be in relation to length, depth and width of bull. Should not appear to be a "dwarf," nor should it appear to be excessively "leggy." 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
Refined but masculine, angular, never square or boxy. Athletic and fluid in movement. No appearance of Bos Taurus influence.
Color
All colors and patterns are acceptable.
Hair Coat
Short, straight, dense and slick, never curly or excessive in length.
Size
Measured at the hip. Ideal height is less than 42,”but there is no maximum as steers tend to grow larger than bulls. No minimum size.
Weight
Ideal weight of mature steers is 300 to 600 pounds.
Head
Coffin shaped skull, moderate of width and length, masculine in appearance. 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.
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 dehorned. Dehorned 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 nor too 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 nor right, placed directly above or slightly ahead of the withers. Steers seldom develop the hump that bulls display.
Body
Steer 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, proportions relative to the size of the animal.
Topline
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 in proportion and relative to body size, not too long nor too short, strong and straight with short, strong pasterns. Rear legs should be angular with incurving 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.
This document in under revision. It is September 1, 2011 DRAFT.