Horn weights on cattle...

StefanieLeann14 · 11-04-2009, 08:13 PM

Hello. I have a horned hereford heifer that is about a year old. Maybe a little older. Anyways, her horns are growing straight out of her head on either side. I would like to turn them a little bit. Mostly to make it easier for her to get through a chute when we work the cows. My question is has anyone used horn weights before? I have been looking into them but there are three different weights and im not sure which ones to go with. Also, im not really sure how long to leave them on or anything of the sort. So has anyone used them before? If so, can you tell me a little about them? Thanks guys!

ChasnCans · 11-04-2009, 08:44 PM

My boyfriend owns a bunch of bucking bulls, I can ask him tomarrow before work. I've seen them used -- but wouldn't know how long to tell you to keep them on. Are they still small enough to break? I don't know what type of heifer a hereford is so I don't even know if you can do that to them. We've done it to a few of our bulls.

ChasnCans · 11-04-2009, 08:51 PM

okay, just talked to him!

He said the weights are a bad idea, can cause the horns to break, which is not good. I guess if you use rebar, whatever that is called. That metal stuff? Bend it to the shape you want the horns to turn out and vet wrap that too the horns for awhile -- the growing horns will follow the metal bar, and at a sertain point once the horn turns the way you want you just take it off and it keeps growing out that way.

Plus I bet that is cheaper than buying some silly weights.

StefanieLeann14 · 11-04-2009, 09:30 PM

Hmm. Well I have never seen the rebar trick used. May have to think about that. I have seen the weights used before and never heard anything about the horns breaking...im not talking about weighting them down a lot. I just want a little bit of a curve to them so she can get around a little easier than if they stick straight out of her head on either side lol. He thinks even 3/4lb weights on either side will break the horns? I didnt think that would be enough weight to turn them let alone cause harm.

ETA: I dont think she is small enough that the horns would break. I have seen others her age with the weights on and they dont seem to be bothered by them at all. She is at least a year old. Probably older I just dont have her papers with me at this second. Plus she is big for her age.

Chasncans, this is a hereford.

He is polled though. They can be horned, polled, or scurred.

Arabx · 11-05-2009, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChasnCans

My boyfriend owns a bunch of bucking bulls,.

Way cool!!! I've noticed recently that bucking bulls are more colorful, they must be breeding them that way?

We just bought some longhorn heifers, they are so cute. They do have special longhorn chutes, but we don't have one.

To the OP, the cows that I have seen with horns (not longhorns) seem to be really handy with their horns and turning their head to get in and out of chutes. How long are your heifer's horns? Do you have pics, I'd be interested to see as I've seen bulls with straight out horns but not cows.

CowhorseGal · 11-05-2009, 09:23 AM

sorry double post....

CowhorseGal · 11-05-2009, 09:24 AM

"I use the 1/2# weight on a 300# calf with the horns just tipping the length of the ear. I use the 3/4# for the animal with the longer horn (maturity.) I use the 1# weight on the mature animal horn. Remember the horn itself is always growing in diameter and/or in length, depending on their genes. The idea is to get the horns moving in the direction you want, not to finish them where you want the horn to be. So, when the younger horns have moved a 1/2 -1" down, take them off. When the older horns have moved 1 1/2 - 2 1/2" take them. In other words the degree of movement has a greater effect on the younger than the older, the more mature the more stiff the horn."

Here is a quote from the website thtat I found..It is from a Mini Cow breeder..but It may work.. the same
http://www.falsterfarm.com/documents/faq.htm

ChasnCans · 11-06-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arabx

Way cool!!! I've noticed recently that bucking bulls are more colorful, they must be breeding them that way?

We just bought some longhorn heifers, they are so cute. They do have special longhorn chutes, but we don't have one.

To the OP, the cows that I have seen with horns (not longhorns) seem to be really handy with their horns and turning their head to get in and out of chutes. How long are your heifer's horns? Do you have pics, I'd be interested to see as I've seen bulls with straight out horns but not cows.

It really just depends, ours are all reg. with ABBI. Most of the bucking stock are a mix of alot of diffferent breeds of cattle. From fighting bulls to your basic angus. Now that I know what a hereford is .. we have one that kinda looks like him, but with the horns.

Joker · 11-06-2009, 07:24 PM

Hi we used to weigh the horns on our herfords too but that was back in the 70's I was about 10?? so do not remember much I do know they were older the horn was at least as long as the ear I also remember my dad moveing the weight as the horn grew We had some come straight out then come forward and ones that came out and down and in almost like a ring around her head and some that came out then went upward. Had a herd of about 40+ Bulls were always polled and some cows were naughty with their horns. never had any break cause of the weights. I wish we would of kept the weights when we moved. In the end we pasted the calves so they wouldn't have horns but sometimes that did not work you'd have horns or just one horn kinda funny looking. Sorry not much help.

farmergal · 11-15-2009, 02:14 AM

My Dexter turned her own horn trying to put her head in the hay ring. I've noticed my kid goats are turning their horns climbing under the hay rack. I guess it's kind of like kids wearing braces. The constant pressure moving their teeth into place. With the animals it's constantly hitting the horns.

I never heard of horn weights until you brought it up.

Well that's not true. I saw a show on t.v. where a tribe decorated the cows horns for a festival. They deliberately turned the cows horns so they could hang bobbles from it. If my memory serves me right they used a file to put notches in the horn to make it turn. I tried to find it or something similar on YouTube but had no luck.

At the worst you could always cut the horns off.

farmergal · 11-15-2009, 02:29 AM

This is the way they normally grow.

The dangers of a hay ring. I was told she broke the inner horn. Eventually they turned all the way down. I don't have a pic of that as I no longer own the cow.

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11-04-2009, 08:13 PM
StefanieLeann14 Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,420	Horn weights on cattle... Hello. I have a horned hereford heifer that is about a year old. Maybe a little older. Anyways, her horns are growing straight out of her head on either side. I would like to turn them a little bit. Mostly to make it easier for her to get through a chute when we work the cows. My question is has anyone used horn weights before? I have been looking into them but there are three different weights and im not sure which ones to go with. Also, im not really sure how long to leave them on or anything of the sort. So has anyone used them before? If so, can you tell me a little about them? Thanks guys! __________________ God created few perfect horses...then he colored them golden. RIP Memphis Live to ride, Learn to fall.

11-04-2009, 08:44 PM
ChasnCans Started Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KS Posts: 2,012	My boyfriend owns a bunch of bucking bulls, I can ask him tomarrow before work. I've seen them used -- but wouldn't know how long to tell you to keep them on. Are they still small enough to break? I don't know what type of heifer a hereford is so I don't even know if you can do that to them. We've done it to a few of our bulls. __________________ In memory of baby Mayln Marie Loyd. While he may knock over a barrel he will never* break my heart

11-04-2009, 08:51 PM
ChasnCans Started Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: KS Posts: 2,012	okay, just talked to him! He said the weights are a bad idea, can cause the horns to break, which is not good. I guess if you use rebar, whatever that is called. That metal stuff? Bend it to the shape you want the horns to turn out and vet wrap that too the horns for awhile -- the growing horns will follow the metal bar, and at a sertain point once the horn turns the way you want you just take it off and it keeps growing out that way. Plus I bet that is cheaper than buying some silly weights. __________________ In memory of baby Mayln Marie Loyd. While he may knock over a barrel he will never* break my heart

11-04-2009, 09:30 PM
StefanieLeann14 Long Yearling Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,420	Hmm. Well I have never seen the rebar trick used. May have to think about that. I have seen the weights used before and never heard anything about the horns breaking...im not talking about weighting them down a lot. I just want a little bit of a curve to them so she can get around a little easier than if they stick straight out of her head on either side lol. He thinks even 3/4lb weights on either side will break the horns? I didnt think that would be enough weight to turn them let alone cause harm. ETA: I dont think she is small enough that the horns would break. I have seen others her age with the weights on and they dont seem to be bothered by them at all. She is at least a year old. Probably older I just dont have her papers with me at this second. Plus she is big for her age. Chasncans, this is a hereford. He is polled though. They can be horned, polled, or scurred. __________________ God created few perfect horses...then he colored them golden. RIP Memphis Live to ride, Learn to fall. Last edited by StefanieLeann14 : 11-04-2009 at 09:34 PM.

11-05-2009, 09:23 AM
CowhorseGal Long Yearling Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,047	sorry double post.... __________________ Quality Peformance horses with foundation breeding http://blackcanyonpaints.webs.com/

11-05-2009, 09:24 AM
CowhorseGal Long Yearling Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 1,047	"I use the 1/2# weight on a 300# calf with the horns just tipping the length of the ear. I use the 3/4# for the animal with the longer horn (maturity.) I use the 1# weight on the mature animal horn. Remember the horn itself is always growing in diameter and/or in length, depending on their genes. The idea is to get the horns moving in the direction you want, not to finish them where you want the horn to be. So, when the younger horns have moved a 1/2 -1" down, take them off. When the older horns have moved 1 1/2 - 2 1/2" take them. In other words the degree of movement has a greater effect on the younger than the older, the more mature the more stiff the horn." Here is a quote from the website thtat I found..It is from a Mini Cow breeder..but It may work.. the same http://www.falsterfarm.com/documents/faq.htm __________________ Quality Peformance horses with foundation breeding http://blackcanyonpaints.webs.com/

11-06-2009, 07:24 PM
Joker Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 321	Hi we used to weigh the horns on our herfords too but that was back in the 70's I was about 10?? so do not remember much I do know they were older the horn was at least as long as the ear I also remember my dad moveing the weight as the horn grew We had some come straight out then come forward and ones that came out and down and in almost like a ring around her head and some that came out then went upward. Had a herd of about 40+ Bulls were always polled and some cows were naughty with their horns. never had any break cause of the weights. I wish we would of kept the weights when we moved. In the end we pasted the calves so they wouldn't have horns but sometimes that did not work you'd have horns or just one horn kinda funny looking. Sorry not much help. __________________

11-15-2009, 02:14 AM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,062	My Dexter turned her own horn trying to put her head in the hay ring. I've noticed my kid goats are turning their horns climbing under the hay rack. I guess it's kind of like kids wearing braces. The constant pressure moving their teeth into place. With the animals it's constantly hitting the horns. I never heard of horn weights until you brought it up. Well that's not true. I saw a show on t.v. where a tribe decorated the cows horns for a festival. They deliberately turned the cows horns so they could hang bobbles from it. If my memory serves me right they used a file to put notches in the horn to make it turn. I tried to find it or something similar on YouTube but had no luck. At the worst you could always cut the horns off. __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.

11-15-2009, 02:29 AM
farmergal Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 6,062	This is the way they normally grow. The dangers of a hay ring. I was told she broke the inner horn. Eventually they turned all the way down. I don't have a pic of that as I no longer own the cow. __________________ Knowlege is out there, you just need to know where to look.