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Why are some cattle breeds naturally hornless?
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bovid
American bison, or plains buffalo (Bison bison).
Some cattle breeds are naturally hornless due to a genetic trait known as polledness. This state of being hornless is typically caused by a dominant but epistatic gene.1
While many cattle breeds are traditionally horned, breeders have historically utilized selective mating to emphasize desired qualities, which can include the absence of horns for safety and management purposes. For example, the Polled Hereford was developed as a hornless mutation of the standard Hereford breed. Other breeds, such as Angus, are naturally hornless, while some, like the Shorthorn, may be either horned or hornless depending on the specific lineage.2