SC - Steers vs. -- I do apologize!!

[Jennifer Carlson]

Please, please forgive me the for that hideous posting of digital garbage! 
 I'm afraid I still do not understand all of the quirks of Windows yet. 
 What I had MEANT to say was:

On the use of the term "steer" vs. "oxen":

Both terms refer to a castrated bull.  Differences in usage seem largely to 
derive from the purpose for which the bull was deprived of his birthright, 
and the region the deprived bull hails from.

Where castrated bulls are used as draft animals, the term generally used is 
oxen.  In the American West, and other large-ranching regions, where 
castrated bulls are meant solely for the cookpot, the term steer is used.

And regardless of the purpose to which you put the animal, bulls are 
typically castrated while still calves.  It's safer that way.  If you let a 
bull get grown before snipping his bits, it will *not* necessarily make him 
more docile!  So, if you want a plow ox, you'd best alter him while he's 
young.

Talana (Who comes from a cattle family, and is fond of grossing out her 
brothers with the idea of actually eating what they were cutting off the 
little bulls.)


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