A 6’ 4” tall Australian steer is making headlines all over the world. Meanwhile, a 6’ 3” steer named Dozer is quietly grazing in Kismet Creek Farm just outside of Steinbach.
Owner Rebecca Hanuschuk, says she met Dozer many years ago at a friend’s place in Alberta. “I was reading out in their pasture one day and Dozer came to me. I just sat there looking at him until he came close enough for me to pet. After that, I went back to the pasture every day and we created a bond.”
When Hanuschuk first saw Dozer, he was just under twelve months old and a lot smaller. Her friends, who also quickly fell in love with Dozer, let Hanuschuk purchase the steer rather than letting him be slaughtered for meat. She then watched in surprise as he grew to 3000 pounds over the next few years.
“As he kept getting older, his size kept getting bigger and I was taken aback. I was not expecting this to happen.”
Since buying the steer, Hanuschuk has moved him to various farms across the prairies until eventually settling in Kismet Creek Farm and animal sanctuary.
The reason Dozer is in this sanctuary is not merely because his owner is often gone. The steer’s unusual size has caused it health complications. “He doesn’t stop growing,” explains Hanuschuk. “The tendons in his back legs are beginning to break down a bit as a result of his size.”
Dozer is not expected to live the average cow lifespan of 10-20, but Hanuschuk says she and the owners of Kismet Creek Farm spend time massaging pain-relieving creams onto Dozer’s tendons and doing whatever else they can to maintain his comfort.
Hanuschuk is from Anola, but works in Alberta part-time. Whenever she is home she makes sure to spend quality time with her beloved bovine.
“It's the first thing that I do after I come back from working out of town and he remembers me every single time, it doesn’t matter how long I go without seeing him. He’s literally the best.”
Fri, Apr 19, 2:21 PM
Full-time, Permanent, Agriculture, Entry-Level, Sales
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