Gene
Polled cattle are born without horns. Polled is dominant: one copy of a polled allele at the POLLED locus on chromosome 1 gives a hornless animal, and horned cattle carry no polled allele. DNA tests tell the Celtic (Pc) and Friesian (Pf) alleles apart. Studies in dairy and dual-purpose breeds found no effect of the polled locus on milk yield or fertility.
One copy is enough to show Polled; one and two copies look the same.
Scurs are loose horn-like growths that some polled cattle grow; a hornless animal with scurs still carries a polled allele, and breed registries accept scurred animals.
Tests identify the Celtic (Pc) and Friesian (Pf) alleles and are written H/H, Pc/H, Pf/H, Pc/Pc, Pf/Pf or Pc/Pf, where H is horned; some laboratories write PP, HP and HH without naming the allele. The Pc/Pf assays described here do not identify the Mongolian or Guarani alleles. Some older marker assays produced unresolved results in indicine breeds; retain an unresolved result without inferring allele copies. A polled test does not report scurs.
Illustrations of typical animals, checked against the sources below. Not photos of DNA-tested animals.
Animals recorded as showing Polled.
Dexter · Cattle
Polled (copies unknown) · P_PHA carrier (N/PHAD)Dun carrier (B/b)Female · Unknown age
By Tfifteen CharlieCattle
50% possible carrier of PolledHeterozygous Celtic Polled (Pc) · Pc/HFemale · Unknown age
By Tfourteen WestfinCattle
Polled (copies unknown) · P_Female · Unknown age
By Tfourteen WestfinCattle
Pc/PcOne BD1 copy · BD1/NFemale · Unknown age
By Tfourteen WestfinHereford · Cattle
Pc/PfED/eA1/A2Female · Unknown age
By Cora SeoqaHereford · Cattle
Pc/PfA2/A2Female · Unknown age
By Cora SeoqaRecorded or possible carriers of Polled. This grouping does not predict their full appearance.
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Guides and articles for Polled cattle owners.
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Calculators, generators, and guides preset for Polled cattle.
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