Does a cow have horns: structure and what they are for, how to remove and use

Thanks to the work of breeders, many unusual breeds of cattle have appeared. When purchasing a pet, an experienced farmer will take an interest not only in the productive qualities of the cow, but also check whether the new cow has horns. Modern livestock breeders are trying to get rid of the horny processes on the heads of animals. The dehorning procedure helps to prevent serious injuries to cows and ensure the safety of the owners.

Why do cows have horns?

It's hard to imagine a cow without a pair of sharp horns. Of course, there are breeds of polled cows, but it is rare to meet them. Nature did not give the cow sharp claws and strong teeth, but rewarded them with horns.The paired organ serves as the only defense against predators for cows. In addition, the horny processes have another purpose:

The horns on the head of a cow are a means to attract the attention of bulls.

Formidable weapons males use to successfully fight for supremacy among their own kind. The leader is invariably occupied by the owner of the largest horn processes.

People use pet horns as a fixation device:

Having tied the cow by the horns, the owners carry out medical and caring procedures.
On a makeshift leash, the animal is led in any direction. On a leash, a cow meekly follows a man.
An experienced farmer only needs one look at the cow's horns to determine the exact age of the animal.

In bulls, the paired organ is more developed than in the fair sex. In some individuals, the length of the horns reaches 65-70 cm.

Anatomical structures

The sharp horns of cows have a complex structure. The outer part of the horn process is a capsule consisting of numerous stem cells. It is made up of epidermal cells. This is the part of the horn that everyone is used to seeing.

The dermis is hidden under the epidermis layer. It is permeated with a network of blood vessels. The dermis reliably connects the frontal bones with the base of the horn and provides blood supply to the outer cover of the organ. Under the dermis layer is loose connective tissue.

The horny process is divided into parts:

Foundation. This part contains the root of the horn.
Body. The largest, central part of the organ. As a rule, it is the body of the horn that is injured.
The apical part of the horn process. There are no blood vessels and numerous nerve endings here, so an injury to this part of the horn will not bring suffering to the pet.

Newborn calves have only tubercles - the beginnings of horns. The horns are of different colors. It is not uncommon to see white, black, brown or dark gray shoots.

Determining age by horns

According to the condition of the horny processes, one can judge the age of the cow. True, this method is not suitable for young heifers. Counting is possible only thanks to the horns of the repeatedly calved pet. Each calving of an animal is accompanied by hormonal changes in the body of the pet. The epidermis layer begins to actively grow or, conversely, become thinner. The process ends with the appearance of another ring on the cow's horns. The cow brings offspring no more than once a year, so the number of marks exactly matches the age of the animal.

Do I need to do something if the animal broke the horn

If a pet is deficient in nutrients and vitamins, its horny processes become brittle and break easily. The same story happens with animals that have reached a respectable age. The horns serve as an indicator of the he alth of the animal. The lack of vitamins is indicated by the delamination of the outer coating on the horns.

When the tip of the horn is damaged, the animal does not experience pain, and no problems arise. It is much worse if the body or the base of the horn process is injured.

The inside of the organ is lined with numerous layers of skin. They protect the bone from damage and boast an excellent blood supply. Experts call these layers of skin a cover. When the protective cover is injured, the wound bleeds and causes suffering to the pet. The cow may cry from pain. The consequences of the injury can be severe. When broken, the area of the frontal bone opens and the brain is exposed.In this situation, you can not do without the help of a veterinarian.

In case of a fracture of the body of the horny process, the cow is given first aid:

The wound is thoroughly washed and disinfected. Then the injured area must be tightly bandaged. In some cases, bleeding is stopped with a tourniquet applied to the base of the broken horn.
The diseased organ is anesthetized and cut down just below the fracture site.
Wabs with healing preparations and a clean, disinfecting bandage are applied to the cut off stump.

The most dangerous injury to the organ is a fracture of the base of the horn. In this case, the veterinarian must take emergency measures. The procedure is carried out under anesthesia. The animal is firmly fixed. The broken horn is sawn off and the bone fragments are aligned.

Then, swabs soaked in a disinfectant and a sterile dressing are applied to the treated wound.

How to remove horns from a cow

Injuries to the horns bring physical suffering to pets, so farmers often resort to early amputation of the horn processes in animals. As a rule, small calves are subjected to the procedure. At a young age, the operation is almost painless, and wounds heal quickly.

Calves are dehorned in different ways:

Bloodless amputation of the rudiments of the horns by applying a special tight ring. The procedure is done under local anesthesia. The horny processes of the calf are pulled together with tight rubber bagels. Thus, the blood supply to the horn capsules is completely stopped, and the organs stop growing. After 7-9 days, the dead rudiments of horns fall off.
Removal of horn processes with a sheet saw. The operation is done under local anesthesia. Before amputation, large blood vessels are clamped. After removing the processes, the wound is treated with an antibiotic and a bandage is applied. With this method of dehorning, the wound healing process takes a long time. It will take at least 2 months for the animal to fully recover.
Adult animals are more likely to have partial amputation of the horns. In this case, only the tips of the horn processes are cut off. There are no blood vessels and nerve endings in these places, so pets undergo surgery painlessly.
Removing horns with chemicals. The procedure is done for very small calves. The maximum age of babies should not exceed 3 weeks. The rudimentary tubercles are treated with a chemical and sealed with a plaster. This method is not very popular due to pain and possible complications.
Amputation of horns with electricity.The operation is performed on calves up to two months of age. The procedure is carried out using a device called an electrothermocauter. Within 4-5 seconds, the rudimentary tubercles of the horns are cauterized at a temperature of 1000 degrees. After 10-14 days, the dried horny processes fall off.

Using cut horns

People use antlers to make decorative items and ornaments. Products carved from animal bones find a place in museums and exhibitions. In the Caucasus, vessels for wine are made from the horns of cows. Such cups are traditionally used during the celebrations of significant events.

Cow breeds without horns

Hornless cows are not always achieved artificially. Some breeds of animals are initially devoid of horny processes. On the heads of these cows there are only small tubercles. Such animals are called polled. The name comes from the word "komel", which means "little block" or "growth".

Polled cows are the fruit of many years of work of breeders. They are in no way inferior to their horned compatriots. The absence of horns does not affect the milk yield and the amount of fattened mass. Polled cows are prolific and do not require special conditions.

The following breeds are popular among professional breeders:

Russian (horned). A unique breed was bred by crossing Kalmyk cows with Aberdeens. Strong, muscular animals are champions in meat production. The product yield is 70-80%. Bulls of the Russian breed easily reach 1300 kg.
Redpol. Representatives of the English meat and dairy breed are not afraid of a hot climate. Red-brown cows give about 4.5 thousand liters per year. The mass of an adult bull reaches 800 kg, cows gain no more than 600 kg.
Aberdeen Angus. A distinctive feature of the breed is the pleasant roundness of all parts of the body. Cows are known for producing quality beef.