[cherry]

question......how long does it take to get good beef from a steer?....1 yr?...more?

[Oorang]

IMO, for good marbling, 18 months. Any longer and there is too much fat for the butcher to cut off and that is just your money being thrown away. If you are looking for beef similar to what you get in the grocery store, which these days is usually quite lean, than probably 12 months. But, one of the things that makes a truly great steak is the marbeling.