Toowoomba Charolais steer could also be one of our biggest

Westbrook resident Jenny Arthur contacted the Queensland Country Life after reading a story about Reggie the bullock, from Chinchilla, who eclipsed his six foot high (182cm) owner. 

Pure bred 10-year-old Charolais steer Willy is taller than Ms Arthur who stands at 172cm (5'8"). While he won’t fit on scales or up a crush, a butcher predicts he weighs about 1300kg.

Ms Arthur said Willy was by a stud Charolais bull and out of a first calf heifer who couldn’t get up after naturally giving birth down on a gully.

“He couldn’t get up and nor could his mother so we decided we would have to bring him up to the house and put him in the stable because we do have a few dogs around,” she said.

“The next morning she (the mother) was on her feet so we brought her up. He was never bottle fed but he was just incredibly quiet natured.”

In the end it was that nature that saved him from the saleyards as a weaner and allowed him to grow into a giant.

“I’ve got to put my hand up to put it on his wither,” Ms Arthur said.

“I’ve never measured him. I don’t know what he is across the backside but about three feet (91cm) would be close to it.” 

Just like Reggie, Ms Arthur said Willy had become a star attraction.

“It’s amazing, we have got a road that goes around the side of us, and if the cattle are up the other end people look at him and really can’t believe he is walking around,” she said.