Phenotypes

The absence of horns (polledness) is of substantial benefit in cattle, from an economic and welfare point of view: bruising due to horns is eliminated, and the stress associated with de-horning is avoided. (Information complied by Ulrika Tjälldén and Vanja Kinch, Uppsala, March 1998). In addition to naturally occurring variants for this trait, variants have been created artificially: Genetically-modifed organism; GMO.