The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Cattle => Topic started by: LadyEarth on May 21, 2016, 09:15:44 pm

Title: Scurs or horns?
Post by: LadyEarth on May 21, 2016, 09:15:44 pm

I have a shorthorn calf who is now 9 months old. She has some small horns, about 2" long. I've only had polled calves before so I don't know if these are horns or scurs. Mum and dad are both polled but could be heterozygous...

Does anyone know how big horns would be at this age? Or have any useful tips for identifying what these are?

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on May 21, 2016, 10:23:41 pm

its rather difficult to say, it could be a throwback a genetic fault for example. Could we have a pic to get a better idea of it plz?

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: Sbom on May 21, 2016, 10:31:57 pm

they will be horns  :) still small enough to be taken off if needed though

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: LadyEarth on May 21, 2016, 11:18:39 pm

Will have a try and get a photo tomorrow. What makes you sure they are horns Sbom?

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: Sbom on May 22, 2016, 10:04:28 am

Because scurs develop when they are older as a result of bad dehorning. If they are even and straight they they are horns. Scurs tend to grow anyway but up!

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: LadyEarth on May 22, 2016, 10:47:18 am

I understood that scurs were genetic...

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: Sbom on May 22, 2016, 12:58:20 pm

Cattle either have horns or they don't. 

Title: Re: Scurs or horns?
Post by: shep53 on May 22, 2016, 08:51:25 pm

Sounds like horns  , firmly attached to  head and pointy like a volcano  , scurs are mostly movable not firm and tend to be rounded