An ox is a mature, castrated male belonging to the domestic cattle family trained to work and used for meat at the end of its life.

A steer is also a castrated male but is a younger animal that may not be trained or may not be strong and mature enough for hard work.

Although the Random House Dictionary says an ox is “the adult castrated male of the genus Bos used as a draft animal and for food,” in the United States a steer is commonly not considered an ox until it is 4 years old, when it is considered large enough and mature enough for any work required of it.

Farmers commonly refer to pairs of working steers that have achieved some level of training as oxen, whether they have reached age 4 or not. However, they also are referred to as bulls, even though they have been castrated.

The bottom line is castrated males intended solely for meat are considered steers; castrated males in training or trained for work are oxen.

SOURCE: Rural Heritage, a journal for farmers and

loggers who use oxen, mule, and horse power, based in Tennessee.