NATIONAL SEMIFINAL STAGE 2025
Opoku Ware School (OWASS): 48
Achimota School: 27
St. Peter's SHS: 10
QUESTION
What name is given to a bull that has been castrated before reaching sexual maturity, usually to improve its behaviour and meat quality?
ANSWER: Steer.
EXPLANATION
A steer is a male bovine castrated while young (before puberty), which reduces aggressive/sexual behaviour and testosterone-driven muscle toughness, producing calmer animals with more tender, well-marbled meat. This is distinct from a "bullock," a term sometimes used for a bull castrated after reaching maturity.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. What name is given to a bull castrated before sexual maturity?
ANSWER: Steer
2. What is castration?
ANSWER: Removal of the testes
3. Which hormone do the testes produce?
ANSWER: Testosterone
4. What effect does early castration have on behaviour?
ANSWER: The animal becomes calmer and less aggressive
5. What effect does early castration have on meat quality?
ANSWER: The meat is more tender
6. In which structure are the testes held?
ANSWER: Scrotum
7. Give one reason farmers castrate bulls.
ANSWER: To improve behaviour and meat quality
8. What name is given to a young female cow that has not yet calved?
ANSWER: Heifer
9. What name is given to a castrated ram?
ANSWER: Wether
10. What name is given to a castrated male horse?
ANSWER: Gelding
11. What name is given to a castrated cockerel?
ANSWER: Capon
12. What name is given to a female cow that has calved?
ANSWER: Cow