DOZENS of locals took the opportunity on Australia Day to travel to Glencoe and get up close and personal with reputedly Australia’s largest steer.
Known as Big Moo, it is thought to be the largest steer in the nation as it stands 186cm tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes.
Its fame has spread over the past year and even attracted the attention of celebrity television vet Dr Chris Brown.
According to Big Moo’s owner Jo Vine, it was quite a day when Dr Brown visited her farmlet where she runs cows and horses.
“Dr Brown was lovely and he was accompanied by a camera operator, sound technician and producer,” Ms Vine said.
Public viewings of Big Moo are occasionally arranged by Ms Vine with 30 people meeting the giant bovine on Boxing Day.
Due to his friendly and docile nature, people are welcome to pat and scratch Big Moo.
His life expectancy is uncertain due to the rare genetic makeup which has made him supersize.
He is seven years old, but it is considered unlikely he will reach 25 years like many of his breed.
Almost 100 people bought stakes at $10 each in Big Moo’s paddock to see if he would defecate in a particular spot and win them $100.
The owner of the lucky spot was Emma Kennon who, like Ms Vine, is a midwife at Mount Gambier Hospital.
Ms Kennon donated her winnings and the $1000 raised from the day went to the Mount Gambier branch of Riding for the Disabled.
This is an organisation that gives people with a disability the chance to learn to ride and care for horses.
An additional attraction at the Australia Day viewing was cart rides pulled by large Clydesdales working horses.
They came for Australia Day from the Mil Lel property of Ian, Lynette and Lisa Fritsch.
