Polled Heifer Not So Polled

[Dozer45]

My show heifer this year is a registered polled hereford and when I got her she had medium sized scurs, which I understand to be okay on a polled animal. I have been gone at college for about 3-4 weeks and when I looked at her today she now has enough "Horn" to grab with my hand. What do I do? ???

 

[advocate]

If its attached to the skull its a horn and I'd send her back if its not and is a scur simply have it removed

 

[Dozer45]

O they are attached. I dont really want to send her back because I have put alot of work into her and am really happy with her. This was just somewhat of a shocker to come home to. Do I have any options besides a horn saw to remove them?

 

[steelroom]

If you are going to show her it sounds like she could use a cosmetic dehorn treatment. Maybe you can get the person that said she was polled to pay for it!

 

[Dozer45]

Yeah I do plan to show her and thats why I was so shocked otherwise I wouldnt really worry about them

 

[R1Livestock]

Keep in mind you're dehorning a "polled" hereford.  I'm not a herf guy, but I would guess that could be a breed classification problem.  Cosmetic dehorning would make her stand out in a class of polleds pretty easily.  Maybe someone better with herefords can help here.

 

[Dozer45]

In some information the AHA sent me it said most heifers are dehorned, I believe they are labeled more for breeding.... but I could be wrong

 

[Jill]

I didn't think you could enter a horned Hereford into the Polled Hereford Association, you may have paper problems on your heifer, they are 2 seperate record books from what I understand.

 

[Dozer45]

she is not registeres with a polled assocation just the american hereford assocation and here papers just say polled heifer. My reg. horned cow is with the same assocation as all hers say is horned heifer. My hereford book even says heiferes are often dehorned I just worry about her at our county fair because she will be marked down being the only horned heifer

 

[Jill]

I don't know about anywhere else, but in Kansas they show in 2 seperate classes, a dehorned Hereford can't show in the Polled Hereford class, you might check on the shows you are planning to show her at.

 

[Dozer45]

That I will do for sure, I have never seen different classes here in colorado but better safe then sorry. I contacted her producer which i guss is the first step.

 

[Jill]

Yea, if it's not a problem with your show, the breeder will just need to send in a correction so her papers are correct.

 

[CPL]

The American Hereford Association registers both Polled and Horned cattle, but notes the difference on the registration paper.

Depending on the size of the show, sometimes there is a separate class for the Polled and Horned division - sometimes not. I think most Association sponsored shows are split. Alot of the smaller shows not so much.

What's her registration number?

You will want to have her dehorned (depending how old she is now could be a problem) as well as correct the mistake with the association.

 

[Feed Guy]

If there is any wiggle to them they would be considered a scur just have the field rep for your area verify that they are scurs and then remove them and she will still show as polled. No big deal many scurred ones have had them removed.  If the person dehorning does a good job the only way to tell will be the slight scar on her head. 

 

[HerefordGuy]

I didn't think you could enter a horned Hereford into the Polled Hereford Association, you may have paper problems on your heifer, they are 2 seperate record books from what I understand.

The two associations merged in 1995.

 

[Show Steaks]

we had a simmental bull with LONG scurs nearly a foot long and they just flopped. kinda funny watchin him run cuz they just bounced up and down.. still scurs as long as they arent attached no matter how long they are

 

[HerefordGuy]

If there is any wiggle to them they would be considered a scur just have the field rep for your area verify that they are scurs and then remove them and she will still show as polled. No big deal many scurred ones have had them removed.  If the person dehorning does a good job the only way to tell will be the slight scar on her head. 

I think the advice to have the field rep check her is sound advice.

 

[Dozer45]

The American Hereford Association registers both Polled and Horned cattle, but notes the difference on the registration paper.

Depending on the size of the show, sometimes there is a separate class for the Polled and Horned division - sometimes not. I think most Association sponsored shows are split. Alot of the smaller shows not so much.

What's her registration number?

You will want to have her dehorned (depending how old she is now could be a problem) as well as correct the mistake with the association.

The two main shows I want to show her in is our county fair is just an open heifer class so I know there wont be a split and Im not sure about the colorado state fair because the new book has not come out yet.
Her number isP42965525 and her name is Monument Lady 0993

 

[Dozer45]

we had a simmental bull with LONG scurs nearly a foot long and they just flopped. kinda funny watchin him run cuz they just bounced up and down.. still scurs as long as they arent attached no matter how long they are

I originaly thought she just had scurs but after I started graining her they had a growth spurt and they are for sure attached and not loose

 

[KCK]

Dehorning one makes them Horned. Lived that once
The 2009 Colorado state fair showed their Herefords in a combined show, so you are good to go there as long as you have papers. Not saying I have a thing against Horned females, but I am sorry she changed on you.