What Makes a Good Breeding Bull — How to Tell Early When to Keep or Steer

One of the hardest parts of raising miniature cattle is deciding which bull calves should stay intact for breeding and which should be steered and made into pets. Not every bull calf is meant to be a herd sire — and that’s perfectly okay.

Here’s what I look for when deciding which young bulls have real potential and when to make that decision.

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1. Structure Comes First

Even in minis, good structure matters just as much as it does in full-size cattle.

From the time a calf is weaned, start watching how he moves and stands.

Look for:

• Straight legs and strong feet — no “cow hocked” (knees turned in) or “post-legged” (too straight) stance.
• A level back — not dipped or hunched.
• Balanced build — front and back should grow evenly.

If you see clear structural problems early, it’s usually best to steer him. Poor structure can only get worse as he grows and gains weight.

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2. Balanced, Breed-Correct Look

Miniature bulls should still look like real bulls — just smaller.

Things to look for:

• A solid chest and wide base
• Good depth of body 
• Strong frame and musculature

Don’t let long hair or a pretty face fool you — correct build and proportions matter more than looks.

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3. Temperament Is a Big Deal

A good bull is calm, confident, and easy to handle.

Even at a few months old, you can spot red flags:

• Head-shaking, dirt kicking, postering, or charging
• Nervousness that doesn’t improve with gentle handling
• Overly pushy behavior

Temperament is partly genetic — if he’s hard to handle young, he’ll only get worse with age. Those are the ones to steer.

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4. Growth and Size

In mini programs, we want bulls that grow proportionally.

Between 6 and 12 months old:

• Watch how his height compares to both parents.
• A chondro-positive bull will usually be shorter and heavier-bodied.
• A non-chondro bull should still be compact, but balanced and athletic.

Avoid extremes on either end. Oversized bulls cause calving problems, while poorly built chondro bulls often struggle with mobility or breeding soundness later.

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5. The Final Check: 12–18 Months

This is when you’ll know if he’s truly breeding quality.

Ask your vet for a Breeding Soundness Exam (BSE) — it’s the best way to know for sure.

The vet will check:

• Testicle size, shape, and firmness
• Semen quality and motility
• Overall health and structure

If he doesn’t pass, don’t feel bad.  You may even want to give him a little more time to develop and retest.  Ask your Vet for their opinion.  Not every bull is meant to breed — and a good steer can still make an amazing pasture companion or show animal.  And if you feel your bull didn’t get a fair shake because your Vet is inexperienced with miniature or chondro bulls, seek pier advice from more experienced breeders on overall structure.

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6. Genetics and Health

• Know his parents’ temperament, size, and calving history.
• Avoid risky pairings like chondro-to-chondro — they can result in non-viable calves.
• Keep health and conformation records — that’s how responsible breeders build strong herds.

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Final Thoughts

A truly good breeding bull is:

• Well-built
• Calm and easy to handle
• Fertile and healthy
• Produces small, healthy, well-structured calves safely

Steering a calf isn’t a loss — it’s part of protecting your herd and your reputation. Every decision you make shapes the future of your breeding program.