Ever met a steer taller than most doorframes? Meet Beef, a Holstein who just snagged the title of the tallest living steer, standing at a jaw-dropping 6'6"! Jasmine Entz, his devoted owner, couldn’t have imagined how big her adorable calf would grow when she first laid eyes on him, all slimy and newborn, on her farm in Vulcan, Alta.

Jasmine recalls the moment vividly. She snapped a picture of the tiny black-headed calf, sending it to a coworker with the words, “This one’s really cute.” But it wasn’t just his cuteness that drew her in; Beef had a spark, a zest for life that was palpable even back then. “He just seemed to have an energy to him that he was always excited about life,” she fondly remembers. This little go-getter soon stole her heart.

From the start, Beef had personality. He was calm, smart, and loved to snuggle—definitely not your average steer! After being weaned, he joined Jasmine's hobby farm, complete with a herd of 50 miniature goats. At just three months old and 250 pounds, he was still a baby by Holstein standards, but Jasmine had a feeling he was going to be special.

As the years rolled by, Beef didn’t just grow; he skyrocketed in size! Jasmine fed him the standard diet for cattle, but Beef had other plans. He continued to grow taller and taller, eventually catching the attention of the Guinness World Records when a friend brought up another record-holding steer, Tommy, who stood at 6'1". Jasmine immediately thought, “Beef is definitely bigger.”

After submitting proof of his height and health, Beef was officially recognized as the tallest steer in the world! When measured, he was already 6'5", and astonishingly, he has grown even taller since then! Beef now weighs a whopping 2,500 pounds, and let’s just say, he has quite an appetite—chowing down on 100 pounds of hay daily and racking up $400 a month in feed bills!

Despite his newfound fame, Beef’s size does present some challenges. Jasmine can no longer ride him because he’s simply too big for her tack, and to be honest, she’s not keen on sitting high off the ground. Yet, there’s a silver lining; Beef gets to live a life full of comfort and companionship, thanks to Jasmine’s commitment to his well-being.

As a Holstein, Beef is naturally lean, but one look at his towering frame makes it clear he’s not your typical steer. While many steers don’t reach maturity due to unfortunate fates, Beef’s unique situation allows him to thrive. He enjoys regular vet checkups and a pampered life on the farm, proving that even the biggest bovines can be lovable companions.

In the end, Jasmine reflects on the costs of caring for such an extraordinary animal. “It’s a little silly that I’m feeding a 6-foot-6, eight-year-old Holstein steer,” she chuckles. “But he’s my baby, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything.” So, while Beef might be the tallest steer, he’s undoubtedly the biggest sweetheart, too.