Horns in cattle pose a potential risk of injury to other animals in the herd – but also to the farmers who work with the cows. This is why calves are often dehorned by sclerotherapy (using heat). The procedure can be painful for the animals.
There are also efforts to specifically breed cattle without horns. Animals are reproduced that have a gene on the first chromosome that makes them hornless. With skill, experience and breeding luck, the Frankenburg Seifried family has now achieved breeding success. Her young bull “Wachau PS” has no horns and represents great hope as a future breeding bull. But the bull is also a magnificent specimen when it comes to fitness.
A few days ago, a breeding cattle auction in Ried showed how great the potential of “Wachau PS” is estimated. There, Marianne Seifried achieved a top price of 84,000 euros for her young bull. “Wachau PS” was purchased by OÖ Besamungsstation GmbH together with the company EUROgenetik. The bull’s new home is the insemination station in Hohenzell (Ried im Innkreis district). His offspring will be vital and healthy cows that will bring more safety to cattle breeding and whose calves will not have to be dehorned.
