Horned vs. Polled
Dexter Cattle Genetics
Dexter cattle can be either horned or polled (naturally hornless). For families, homesteaders, and breeders, understanding horn genetics is more than just a matter of appearance — it’s about safety, handling, and long-term herd health. At Mountain Heritage Farm, we follow one unbreakable rule: no horns in the working herd.
That doesn’t mean we ignore horned genetics. In fact, some of the best-uddered, most productive Dexter bloodlines carry the horned gene. By learning how horn inheritance works — and making thoughtful breeding decisions — we’re able to combine the safety of polled cattle with the milk quality and udder strength often found in horned lines.
Why We Choose Polled Dexters for Safety
While some breeders love the traditional look of horns, we place a higher value on safe handling. I often work our herd alone, and even a gentle cow can cause injury with horns.
Think about the way cattle behave naturally:
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Swatting flies with a quick head toss.
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Jostling for feed at the trough.
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Establishing herd hierarchy with a shove or swing.
All of those normal movements become risky when horns are involved. A single head-swing in the wrong place could mean a serious injury. For that reason, our rule is simple: no horns in the working herd.
This choice doesn’t mean we mistrust our Dexters — they’re known for their docility — but we won’t compromise on safety.
📷 Herd matriarch, Eloise with her stunning homo-polled bull calf, Gilbert.
Understanding Horn Genetics in Dexters
Thanks to modern DNA testing, we can easily see whether a Dexter carries horned or polled genes. Horn inheritance follows simple Mendelian genetics, which means we can predict outcomes using a Punnett square.
Even when both parents carry the horned gene (Pc/H), only 25% of calves are expected to be born with horns.
Here’s the breakdown:
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Homozygous Polled (Pc/Pc): Always passes the polled gene. All offspring will be polled.
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Heterozygous Polled (Pc/p): Can pass either polled or horned. Offspring have a mix of outcomes.
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Homozygous Horned (p/p): Always passes horns unless bred to a homozygous polled animal.
Because polled is dominant, even one copy of the polled gene results in a hornless calf. That’s why so many modern Dexters are polled, even though early Dexters were almost exclusively horned.
A turning point in Dexter history came with the introduction of the bull Saltaire Platinum, whose genetics spread the polled trait widely across the United States. In fact, one of my favorite milk cows, Mrald Platinum Gypsy, is his granddaughter. At just three years old she’s already proven herself as a fabulous milker — proof of how enduring Saltaire Platinum’s influence is on the modern Dexter gene pool.
The Case for Keeping Horned Genetics
Many breeders today insist on using only homozygous polled bulls, believing this is the safest way to guarantee no horns in their herd. While that approach does eliminate horned calves, it can also unintentionally narrow the gene pool.
📷 Several of our polled herd grazing on a foggy spring morning.
Over time, this kind of selective pressure has shown real effects on udder quality in some Dexter lines. In my own herd, I’ve seen that cattle carrying the horned gene often have superior udder attachments, capacity, and butterfat production. For a farm like ours, where milking is a priority, those traits are far too valuable to ignore.
That’s why we deliberately keep some heterozygous polled animals (Pc/H) in our breeding program. Yes, it means we’ll occasionally see a horned calf, but we’re willing to accept that small chance in exchange for the udder strength and milk performance that horned genetics bring.
Balancing Safety and Genetic Diversity
At Mountain Heritage Farm, we’re clear about our safety rule: no horns in the working herd. That means any horned calf born here will be dehorned at a young age before joining the herd. This ensures that handling remains safe — whether I’m in the pasture alone, at the feed trough, or in the milking stanchion.
But we also recognize the long-term value of keeping the horned gene alive in Dexter cattle. By allowing heterozygous polled animals into our breeding program, we preserve genetic diversity that many herds miss out on. The result? Stronger udders, excellent butterfat, and healthier cattle overall.
Even when two hetero-polled parents are paired, the chance of producing a horned calf is only 25% — and to us, that’s a fair trade for the quality traits those animals bring to the table.
📷 Mother and daughter - both hetero-polled. Tilly is my best milker.
Our Approach at Mountain Heritage Farm
In the end, breeding decisions are always about balance. We value the safety and peace of mind that comes from having a polled herd — no one wants to worry about horns in the stanchion or at the feed trough. But we also recognize the importance of keeping the horned gene in circulation for the health and future of the Dexter breed.
By thoughtfully pairing homozygous and heterozygous polled animals, we gain the best of both worlds: a herd that’s safe to handle while still benefiting from the milk quality, udder structure, and genetic diversity that horned lines contribute.
Some of the milkiest, best-uddered Dexters in the breed trace back to horned genetics — and that’s a legacy worth preserving. It’s why you’ll find both homo-polled and hetero-polled animals in our herd today.
At Mountain Heritage Farm, our goal is simple: safe, productive Dexters that families can milk with confidence — backed by careful breeding choices that respect both tradition and the future of the breed.
📷 Napoleon is our hetero-polled bull — and he brings some of the best udder genetics in the herd.
Ready to Learn More About Dexter Genetics?
At Mountain Heritage Farm, we’re committed to transparency in breeding. From horned vs. polled genetics to milk protein testing, we share openly so families can make confident choices.
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