Hornless breeds of cows

Curved horns that adorn the head, are perceived as an indispensable feature of the appearance of a bull or a cow - for that he and cattle. However, there are also hornless cows, the so-called horny, with no horns. This feature is a specific breed characteristic. Why and why there appeared hornless breeds of cows - further in the article.

What is a komolya cow

Animals called horns do not have horns, although they should be by nature. Not only cows, but also rams, goats, and sheep can be komolym. On the head, in the place where the horns should flaunt, such animals form special horny growths or cones, which are called the butt.

Usually komoly cows have a meat orientation. The absence of horns from them is not a defect or defect. On the contrary - it speaks about their belonging to a certain breed.

Many livestock breeders consider komol as an advantage, since this feature of cows completely eliminates the risk of injury. Moreover, bastard cows on the livestock market are cheaper than their horned relatives. Requirements for living conditions and care for horny cows are the same as for other varieties.

Why it happens

Komolost, that is, hastiness, can be hereditary and inborn. In some cases, the horns of the cutlets are cut immediately after birth or at a more adult age, in order to reduce injuries to animals and humans. Cows are also born hornless as a result of large-scale breeding work.

The “hornlessness” gene is dominant, so when two horny animals mate, their offspring in the first generation will also be 100% devoid of horns, the second generation will have special horny growths in place of the horns, in the third generation the ratio of horny and ordinary cows will be 3: 1.

Species of hornless rocks

Next, we consider the most popular varieties of horny cows with their main characteristics.

Aberdeen-Angus

This breed was bred in the late XIX century in Scotland, in the counties of Aberdeen and Angus, which is why it got its name.

Read more about the Aberdeen-Angus breed of cows.
The basis for the breeding work was the local purebred horned cows. At the moment, the breed is very popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and Argentina. It has excellent characteristics of precocity, meat quality, feeding speed. This is a very hardy breed of horny cows.
Important! This breed does not require sheds, as it can tolerate very low temperatures without harm to health. However, animals need large areas for grazing, which should be considered when choosing a breed.
Main characteristics:
  • male weight: 750-1000 kg;
  • female weight: 500-700 kg;
  • height at withers: 120-150 cm;
  • body type: rounded, muscular, broad torso; deep and pronounced chest, short neck, straight legs;
  • suit: black, red;
  • precocity: Insemination of chicks is possible in 14-15 months;
  • meat yield: 60-70%
  • yield: 2000 l / year.

This breed has many advantages, including:

  • very rapid growth and precocity;
  • excellent characteristics of meat (it turns out to be gentle, it has a pronounced marbling, it is best suited for preparing steaks);
  • when crossed with other female breeds, offspring receive color, early ripeness and high productivity characteristics.

Decorative Breed from Iowa

This kind of hornless cows comes from America, Iowa. Unlike other horny cows, the cows from Iowa have not yet been separated into a separate breed and are considered by breeders exclusively as a suit.

Did you know? The cost of a calf ranges from 5 thousand dollars to several tens of thousands. To buy a baby plush cow is possible only in the States.
They are also not used for the production of meat and dairy products, since they have not developed an udder for milking: the main purpose of growing these plush beauties is to participate in exhibitions. Usually the first places are taken by young Iowa cows - the calves of this variety look especially touching and toy-like.

These cows have such an exterior:

  • head: small, set on a short and wide neck, which smoothly passes into a straight back;
  • croup: raised:
  • tail: long, decorated with a fluffy tassel;
  • chest: deep, when looking at an animal in profile, the case resembles a rectangle;
  • legs: short and straight, due to the abundant wool cover look like columns;
  • sides: bulging, rounded.
  • wool: thick and long, soft, plush to the touch, covers the whole body; her care is needed to preserve the beauty;
  • Color: happens the most various - black, all shades brown, white, motley (black-and-white, brown-white).
Learn more about the best breeds of dairy and meat cows.

Redpol

This breed of meat and dairy orientation comes from England. There is no exact data on its origin. It is known that the breed originated at the end of the XIX century as a result of the crossing of Suffolk County dairy cows with Norfolk County meat varieties. To date, it has gained immense popularity not only in England, but also in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Main characteristics:

  • male weight: 800-900 kg;
  • female weight: 500-650 kg;
  • body type: stocky, muscular body, medium-sized head, neck short, thick, deep chest, croup slender;
  • suit: all shades of red (rarely there are individuals with white markings on the udder, belly, and tassel of the tail);
  • yield: 4500 l / year.
It will be useful for you to read about why a cow is drooling, what a cow can be treated to protect against insects, how to wean a cow, butting how to graze cows in a pasture, and also find out what determines the weight of cattle.

Russian Komoly breed

This breed of horny cows was bred quite recently (about 10 years ago), but has already managed to arouse the interest of livestock breeders. Russian bastard Komoly has meat orientation. To obtain this species, the Aberdeen-Angus and Kalmyk animals were crossed. At the moment there are about 8 thousand individuals of this breed. Specifications:

  • male weight: 1300 kg;
  • female weight: 1000 kg;
  • body type: the body is harmoniously complex, large, muscular; the body is rectangular, the head is small, the chest is arched and deep, the back is straight, the croup is powerful;
  • suit: only black;
  • precocity: 15 months, but to get full-fledged offspring, it is recommended to use females from 24 months;
  • meat yield: more than 75-80%.
Did you know? The owner of the largest and heaviest horns in the world until recently was considered a bull breed Watusi. His horns weighed 45 kg each and reached 93 cm in length. The bull was a real attraction on the Gassville farm (Arkansas, USA), but in 2010 he died from cancer, which ironically developed in one of the horns.

This species of cows has a number of advantages over other comic and meat species:

  • they are distinguished by excellent immunity and health;
  • they are resistant to disease, stress and adverse environmental factors;
  • show high adaptability;
  • undemanding to the diet;
  • quickly get used to the new type of feed.
Russian cow meat is highly valued for its dietetic quality, marbling, excellent taste characteristics. In general, hornless cows fell in love with breeders for the simplicity of maintenance, excellent productive characteristics, and unpretentiousness in food.
Important! Despite the simplicity of maintenance and unpretentiousness of the breed, it is impossible to ignore the standard sanitary standards, otherwise a strong and strong animal will quickly become weak and sick.

By providing the minimum necessary conditions from animals, you can get a good return. Considering all this, the hornless cows are a worthy alternative to their horned relatives.

Watch the video: Precision Breeding Offers New Alternative to Dehorning Cattle (May 2024).