Polled cattle are animals naturally born without horns, a characteristic stemming from their genetic makeup. This inherent lack of horns, resulting from specific inherited genes, distinguishes them from other cattle breeds.
How Cattle Become Polled
The absence of horns in polled cattle is determined by a dominant genetic trait. An animal only needs to inherit one copy of the polled gene from either parent to be hornless. This gene is located on chromosome 1 of the cattle’s DNA.
Cattle inherit two alleles for the polled gene, one from each parent. If an animal receives at least one polled allele (P), it will be polled. An animal with two copies of the polled gene (PP) is homozygous polled, meaning all its offspring will be born without horns. Conversely, an animal with one polled gene and one horned gene (Ph) is heterozygous polled, meaning it is hornless but may produce horned offspring if bred with another animal carrying the horned gene.
Naturally Polled Versus Dehorned
Naturally polled cattle are born without horns due to genetic inheritance, a permanent characteristic requiring no human intervention.
In contrast, dehorning is a management practice where horns are physically removed or prevented from growing on naturally horned animals. This procedure is performed to enhance safety, reduce injury risks, and improve ease of management. While both naturally polled and dehorned cattle lack horns, the former’s state is inherent, while the latter’s results from external intervention.
Benefits of Polled Cattle
Polled cattle offer several practical advantages for livestock producers and contribute to improved animal welfare. A primary benefit is eliminating the need for dehorning, which saves time, labor, and costs. This also reduces stress and potential health issues for calves.
The absence of horns increases safety for both cattle and handlers. Horned cattle can cause injuries to other animals, leading to bruising or more serious harm. Polled cattle minimize these risks, creating a safer environment for the herd and reducing injury to farm workers. Additionally, polled cattle are less likely to damage fences, equipment, or facilities.
From an economic perspective, polled cattle are more marketable. Horned feeder calves often sell for less than their polled or dehorned counterparts, with reports indicating a price difference of $1.50 to $3.23 per hundredweight. This is partly due to the increased risk of carcass bruising during transport and the need for dehorning upon arrival at feedlots. The preference for polled animals is also driven by growing consumer awareness regarding animal welfare.