He was saved from the slaughterhouse – now he’s the tallest steer in the world
He was once destined for the slaughterhouse but Romeo was given a reprieve – and has now been recognised as the world’s tallest steer.
The bulky bovine, who dwarfs most ordinary cattle, has reached an imposing 6ft 4in.
To put that into perspective, he is just a tad shorter than Peter Crouch, the 6ft 7in former England striker who was one of the tallest men ever to have played professional football.
Six-year-old Romeo has been acclaimed by Guinness World Records as “the tallest living steer” in the world and has the certificate to prove it.
He seized the title from a 6ft 1in steer named Tommy who lives in Massachusetts.
Romeo, a giant Holstein, lives at the Welcome Home Animal Sanctuary in Creswell, Oregon.
But it could all have turned out very differently.
When he was just 10 days old, he was destined for the slaughterhouse.
He was rescued by Misty and Robert Moore, who run an animal sanctuary.
“In the dairy industry, male calves like Romeo are often deemed as mere byproducts, their destinies predetermined by profit margins,” said Mrs Moore.
They agreed to take him in and let him live in their sanctuary along with other rescued animals.
“From the beginning he was a survivor, and we could tell that he was longing for a fulfilled life. Romeo earned his name due to his deep affinity for love. He delights in both expressing affection and receiving it. His striking combination of handsomeness, intelligence and sensitivity made the name an ideal fit.” Mrs Moore added.
His favourite pursuits include scratching himself against trees and following staff around the sanctuary as they go about their work.
Given his vast bulk, it is no surprise that he has a huge appetite: he chews his way through 100lb of hay and 15lb of grain each day and, according to Guinness World Records, “drinks an entire bathtub full of water”.
But he also likes the occasional treat, with his favourite snacks being bananas and apples.
“To keep up with the costs, we’re always watching our pennies and getting creative with fundraisers to cover Romeo’s hefty grocery bill,” Mrs Moore said.
