horned and de-horned animals in one herd

[sanhestar]

Hi,

what are your experiences with keeping horned and de-horned/polled cows resp. oxen in one group?

Will the horned dominate the de-horned/polled in every case?

[Joshua Kingsley]

In our herd of dairy cattle we have both and it is a dehorned cow that is now the dominate cow in the barn. The horned cows don’t even use thier horns unless provoked.

Josh

[sanhestar]

Josh,

the dehorned cow, was she born into the herd or did you buy her?

[416Jonny]

I can’t speak for having larger percentages of horned cattle, but having watched Erik Andrus’ bovines, I say no.

I think alot of the control/dominance behavior in livestock comes from the perception of superiority or danger.

Peanut (the dairy/beef cross) is the only cow with horns and she is constantly being pushed around by the polled Angus. Although she get’s a few good shots in every now and then.

For example, a dog (just about any size) with the courage to face down animals many times their size will move them around with relative ease. While Peanut has a mean set of horns and occasionally the attitude to match, the resident English shepard will move her and the Angus around. Although that get’s into the predator/prey relationship, it’s still the perception of danger.

I don’t like horned critters. Farming is dangerous enough with out animate spikey objects moving around. There are plenty of people that will tell me otherwise, but I would just as soon not work with horned cattle. They can beat me with horns, but I’ve still got a .416 Rigby Ruger Mark II and a meat grinder :-).

Jonny B.

[sanhestar]

it seems that it’s different in cattle.

In goats, the one with the horns will dominate the dehorned/polled unless said dehorned/polled goat has either been born into the herd to a high-ranking mother / has a high-ranking horned friend and the horned was born to a low-ranking mother.

But even then, it’s often enough that the horned goat shows its “weapons” and the dehorned/polled will give way. They adapt to bite, though, preferably in the ears.

@Jonny: that’s funny – we have an English Shepherd girl. One of approx. 20 here in Germany.

[J-L]

I haven’t had a horned cow for a few years, but at my father in laws ranch which I’m running now, he as 20 or 25 horned cows mixed in with the polled cows. I don’t see the horned cattle doing that much pushing around but I will say this, all of his horned cows are fatter than the average polled cow. They always get the first shot at the supplement tubs we put out to them free choice. They must do the battling when I haven’t been looking, and I seriously doubt that it’s a coincedence.

[Rod]

I know from past experience a horned Dexter cow is a pain. I have had them injure my Lowline calves with the horns. Some can be brutal to the others especially the de-horned ones. Take the horns off and you see a complete personality change. They are aware that they have them and they use them to get what they want.

[Joshua Kingsley]

In response to the question about our cow with out horns, she was bought in and has KILLED 2 of our jersey and shorthorn hefiers. she is a large rangy holsine and she in my oppinion needs a lesson in manners.

[goodcompanion]

@Joshua Kingsley 4431 wrote:

In response to the question about our cow with out horns, she was bought in and has KILLED 2 of our jersey and shorthorn hefiers. she is a large rangy holsine and she in my oppinion needs a lesson in manners.

Yikes. Perhaps a “lesson in manners” involving a bun, pickle, lettuce, ketchup.

[416Jonny]

I would say it sounds like time for some hamburger, as well.

On a more serious note, if this cow has already killed 2 heifers, weither these animals were for beef (big loss) or dairy (not quite so huge, but still big), I’d have a hard time justifying keeping this cow around. Seriously, if you were depending on that stock for replacement or expansion, that cow I would imagine just cost you big time. I don’t know how much you value this animal, but my vote is the meat grinder.

Let us know how she tastes. 😉

Jonny B.

[Joshua Kingsley]

I would love to eat that big holstine but I guess my jersey/dexter X s and my bagging shorthorn don’t rank that high in my dad’s dairy heard… That goes to show she who milks the best ranks the highest on the conventional dairy. Untill she kills one of dad’s registered jerseys she will continue to bully the smaller cows. On a side note I did see her get her butt handed to her today by a little swiss cross.

[416Jonny]

If you’re stuck within the confines of a conventional dairy, then use the most time honored of conventional dairy solutions. A hard crack with a 2×4 (may be substituted for a ball pein hammer) between the eyes seems to be the industry standard. Must be some sort of intensive management practice.

*note, I don’t approve of beating livestock. Just eating them.*

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