Dehorning cattle is one of the most common painful husbandry procedures in dairy and beef farming. Genetics offers an alternative that could eliminate the need for the procedure entirely.
Dehorning is performed to prevent cattle from injuring each other in confined conditions — itself a consequence of intensive housing. The procedure causes measurable acute pain responses and, if performed without analgesics, prolonged suffering. Polled genetics offer a lasting solution: cattle bred to be naturally hornless require no dehorning whatsoever. Transitioning to polled genetics is actively promoted by welfare organisations and some breeding companies.