Useless horns? I cannot think of any type or curve of horns that makes them useless or not dangerous.
Dehorning mature cows is doable. I suggest a vet with lots of experience in that department. They are quick and that will cut down on the pain experienced by the cow.
The guy that did ours used a racheting guillotine set up and then pulled any bleeders. They had powder packed on the area covered in guaze, then a bonnet tied on top. 24 hours later we cut the string holding the bonnet on and then it was allowed to fall off with time. We kept them from the herd for three days because we knew what was coming to them when they rejoined the herd minus those horns. He doesn't like doing them into the third gestation of pregnancy. One of the girls was a day or two in but the pregnancy was fine. We didn't have any infections. When the school had it done (by a different person without as much experience) their cows did have more problems result. They had a couple with infections and they didn't heal as quick.
Ours recovered fairly quickly and it changed the attitude on at least one.
Definitely wait until Fall/Winter because it opens up their sinus cavities and you really don't want to be dealing with maggots in there.
The Fall Mistie's horns were removed. She was a sweetie and we never saw any indicaion that she used those horns on anyone else. Dad would lean in between her horns and scratch her neck. We couldn't leave just one animal with horns, so hers were removed along with Snowdrift's (the reason for their removal) and Sandy's. She and Sandy were 4, I believe, and Snowdrift was 3. Mistie and Sandy turn 8 next month and Snowdrift will be 7 in January, I think...
Mistie a couple years later... I have one the following Spring, but she is dry and overweight. This is a much more flattering shot. lol Mistie does have a little bit of a scur on her right side. A tiny bit of horn leftover.
Sandy with horns. This cow hated me with a passion. Don't know why and we likely never will. It was so bad she slammed a cousin who was wearing a brown vest similar to one I wore at the time. He was shocked as our cows are incredibly calm and never dangerous. As you can tell, she had no problems with complete strangers (only if they were waering clothes similar to me.
This would have been a few years later...not sure when. The Jersey behind her was the reason the horns were removed from the three.
Snowdrift got out of her stanchion, turned to her right and tore into the cow standing next to her. Simone had huge lumps on her side, she wouldn't come in the barn, wouldn't eat, wouldn't milk. She was the highest producer before that. The guy was out in less than two weeks and all three had their horns removed.
Dehorning changed Sandy's attitude and she is fine with me now. Snowdrift is still a brat but she cannot cause serious damage to others now.
We haven't have any with horns since. I've made it a point to have the vet out for disbudding within the first month. Now, it's up to me to burn them.
I do know a woman who has horns on her girls, but not her bulls or steers. They can be worked around, but you have to be very aware and you need the right cow.
With us having a milking herd we cannot allow a few with horns and most without. They learn to take advantage of those horns.
It's not a deliberate choice, it just happens to be the way they come and it doesn't worry me. I know they have horns and make allowances for them when moving around them. My present bull is an Angus so from now on in everything born will be polled and that doesn't bother me either.
