Polled or horned

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Nico.oos

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
7
I would like to get some feedback and opinions on Polled and Horned cattle. I am starting my herd now ( mini Herefords) and I am at a point where I would like to move in to a specific bloodline. Since i am starting now, i would like to start in the right direction instead of trying to change later on and have already gone through the expenses of the current herd. I do know that there are various of markets i can go in to, and each one will have it's own criteria. But at the moment I have to decide to either get a bull that is guaranteed to give me polled calves, and start breeding those genes on to my herd, or get a bull that can either give me polled or horned, and then either keep it horned or dehorn the calf. Getting a guarantee polled bull is more expensive though and that is why I would like to hear some opinions on this. Looking at show cattle ( mini Herefords), I don't see horned cattle as much if at all. I would really like some advice pertaining to this matter. Thank you.
 

simba

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 18, 2011
Messages
524
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
Full disclosure: I raise Polled Herefords.

In most commercial and purebred herds that use horned bulls the first thing they do at birth is dehorn the calf- why not do that naturally and have one less job to do? As long as you like the homo polled bull it’s money well spent as far as I’m concerned.
 

DiamondMCattle

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 31, 2011
Messages
240
Location
Nenzel,NE
Ive been around the Minis a long time most of those cattle you see at shows are just cosmetically dehorned, but polled lines are getting more and more prevalent. We run both, a good one is a good one in my opinion. In my experience alot of the polled and horned genetics compliment each other very well
 

Nico.oos

Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2019
Messages
7
DiamondMCattle said:
Ive been around the Minis a long time most of those cattle you see at shows are just cosmetically dehorned, but polled lines are getting more and more prevalent. We run both, a good one is a good one in my opinion. In my experience alot of the polled and horned genetics compliment each other very well

Thank you for your input. Do you have a website or something that I can go to to take a look at your herd?
 
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