Polled or horned

[Nico.oos]

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]

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]

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]

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?