Tommy, a 13-year-old Brown Swiss residing on a farm in Cheshire, Massachusetts, has recently been recognized as the world’s tallest living steer, towering at an impressive 1.87 meters (6 feet 1 inch). The Balawender family, who has cared for Tommy since he was just a day old, purchased him for approximately $10, considering him more a family member than a mere asset.
While Brown Swiss cattle are generally known for their large bodies among dairy cows, Tommy’s extraordinary size makes him stand out even in his breed. Typically, Brown Swiss cows weigh between 1,300 to 1,400 pounds, with bulls reaching 2,000 pounds. Tommy, however, weighs around 3,000 pounds, earning him the title of the world’s tallest steer.
Despite his imposing size, Tommy possesses a gentle and peaceful demeanor, characteristic of steers (castrated bulls), which are considered safer and more manageable than their uncastrated counterparts. Tommy’s calm disposition contrasts sharply with the potential danger posed by bulls.
Tommy’s daily diet is impressive, including 30 pounds of dry grain, over 75 pounds of hay, and 35-40 gallons of water. Additionally, he has a penchant for apples, with his master investing significantly in local markets to keep him content. Laurie Balawender, Tommy’s caretaker, shared that he even navigates pastures to find wild apple trees, using his intelligence to shake the apples down.
Notably, while Tommy has claimed the Guinness Record as the world’s tallest steer, the Chianina breed holds the distinction of being the largest domesticated cattle breed globally, with individuals even surpassing the size of Nickers, the giant Australian steer.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
