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Post by justin on Sept 27, 2007 21:49:29 GMT -5
I have a yearling heifer that had a loose horn. When I grab the tip of her horn it moves. Her left horn moves also but not as much as the right horn. I've checked the horns well and they don't seem to be broke or cracked. Is this normal?
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Post by Olga on Sept 27, 2007 23:09:37 GMT -5
There was a discussion on Dakodan at one time, about the rate of horn growth. And it seamed that there are Dexters who grow horns fast and those that grow horns slow - a genetic difference, I suppose. It could be that your heifer is one with the slow horn growth gene and the horns haven't "solidified" all the way yet. It could be that she knocked her horn on something hard and loosened it up - does it cause her pain when you move it? It could be that she has scurs - if her horns are real short at this time - did she have a poled parent?
If you have a digital camera, you can take a short movie of showing her horn movement and upload it to uTube, then post a link here, for demonstration.
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Post by justin on Sept 28, 2007 6:59:16 GMT -5
It does not cause her pain when I move it. She does not have polled in her background. She is 12 months old and her horns are a little over 3" long. I also have her 3 year old sister and her horns are shorter than average. I bet you are right that her horns have not "solidified" yet. If she did knock her horns on something hard and loosened them up, will they harden and solidify?
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Post by Olga on Sept 28, 2007 10:06:36 GMT -5
I think they should. Most likely, she's the "slow-horn" Dexter. Here is a pic of Gusty when she was about 11 mo old:  about the length of her ears. |
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Post by justin on Sept 28, 2007 11:54:27 GMT -5
Her horns aren't that long. I hope you're right that she is the slow horn growing type. Thanks for the info.
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Post by Cloverbell on Sept 29, 2007 10:28:51 GMT -5
I had a 6 month old heifer whose horn got knocked lose during a wrestling session while vaccinating her (believe me, I felt terrible). She ended up growing a new one and it has almost caught up with the other. On the good side, it's a great way to tell her apart from the others. Perhaps horns are like fingernails?
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