Polled Hereford

Warren Gammon's registry started in 1901 from eleven naturally polled foundation animals and was incorporated in 1907, by Oklahoma State University's account; Wikipedia dates the American Polled Hereford Association to 1910. The polled and horned populations then ran as separate breeds for most of a century, until the two were combined under the American Hereford Association in 1995.

Apart from the missing horns, everything about the breed is Hereford: the red body and white face, the temperament, the ability to raise a calf on ordinary grass, the long-lived cows. Hereford figures put cows around 1,500 lb and bulls around 2,350, standing about 55 and 60 inches respectively.

Temperament is the Hereford's. The American Hereford Association counts docility among the traits Hereford genetics bring to a cow herd, and a Cornell Cooperative Extension educator describes Herefords as quite docile and easy to work with. The polled line has shared one herd book with the horned cattle since the associations merged in 1995.

Cornell's general guidance on beef cattle safety holds here too: a cow with a newborn calf can be very aggressive, so avoid walking between her and the calf, and no bull can be trusted.

Beef off grass, like the horned breed. What the polled gene removes is a job: no dehorning means no setback to the calf, no wound to manage, and less risk to handlers and to other cattle in a trailer.

The breed is well adapted to cold climates and holds condition on modest forage. Sun is the thing to watch, for the reason below.

The trade is the same as the Hereford's. The white face still burns, and pigmentation around the eye is still worth selecting for; ask about it in high-sun country.

Since 1995 there has been one American herd book. Polled Herefords register with the American Hereford Association alongside horned cattle, so check the polled status on the paper, not just the breed name.

Recent sale prices on HoofnHorn, where there are any, are further down this page.