Management of horns in beef cattle is important for animal welfare, animal handling, handler safety, and animal value. The easiest way to manage horns is by using polled genetics; quality polled genetics can be found in all major beef breeds. Using homozygous polled bulls in Bos taurus cattle will result in a 100 percent polled calf crop even if the cows have horns; in Bos indicus influenced cattle the expression pattern is sometimes different, but most calves will be polled.

Stocker and feeder cattle with horns should be dehorned or tipped as early as possible using methods that minimize stress.

Are you a certified Texas Beef Quality Assurance (TBQA) producer? Training is free and available online and at one-day in-person workshops. Visit texasbeefquality.com for more information.