Pros and cons of horns (on sheep)

[JohnGalway]

Not many pros there John!

Just one less than the cons Clive. I can't remember ever having a serious issue with a sheep because of horns.

 

[Gulli]

Blimey, must tell my mate, didn't know that! You'd think they'd be stuck on well as their main purpose is as a battering ram

Seen a blackie catch one on a hurdle a snap it. Pretty much took half her face off. Not that common though.

After working with horned sheep I would much rather one without horns trying to batter its way through me...

 

[Woolgatherer]

Blackies have horns.

Therefore horns win.

They know exactly where to put the horns as well - shove the tip of it right into the soft bit behind your knee, or ram the front of your shins. I have a theory that the horns cause brain damage by growing into the head... Evil. As are swaledales.

 

[neilo]

Should see a shearers legs after a batch of horned ewes!

I was going to suggest that @Clive Tee asked his shearers' opinion. Also, any lambs that sprout horns are likely to be devalued in the live market as the buyers will think they are hill bred sheep and will kill out poorer as a result.

 

[Kevtherev]

Scotch blackface ewes used to rip your leggings in a race on farm I worked on.

 

[DB67]

I was going to suggest that @Clive Tee asked his shearers' opinion. Also, any lambs that sprout horns are likely to be devalued in the live market as the buyers will think they are hill bred sheep and will kill out poorer as a result.

True.

Although Blackies seem to be selling well this year in the live ring. Think that's because they are generally wide wee buggers. Had a few u grades the other week deadweight aswell!

 

[Paddington]

Having horned sheep has certainly changed our dress sense, we no longer wear coats with external pockets that open from the rear, well we still have the coats, just not the pockets.

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Should see a shearers legs after a batch of horned ewes!

Or worse still - after shearing a batch of horned lambs. Sharp, but not strong enough to hang on to.

Clive if you hold them close to the base, they're generally pretty tough. Though an awkward twist can leave you with just a horn in your hand.

But pros to horned sheep? Aesthetics are the only one I can think of, and when faced with a race full of horned sheep to deal with, that doesn't count for much imho!

 

[Cowcalf]

Great for catching hold of until one snaps off...

Always take the lug with the horn if catching.

 

[Gulli]

Always take the lug with the horn if catching.

Or just catch them under the chin like every other sheep.

 

[Paddington]

CON: We have an electric poutry mesh fence to keep foxes etc out and a three strand electric fence next to it to keep horned sheep away from the mesh.
PRO: If your horned sheep get in with neighbours' non-horned sheep they are easily spotted.
Turnover and weighing crates never seem to take horned sheep into account, at least ours don't!

 

[DB67]

Or just catch them under the chin like every other sheep.

I hate seeing people dragging a ewe by just the horn. Asking for trouble.

Saying that, we had a ewe stuck down a gully beside a fast flowing burn the other week and we managed to throw a rope round one horn. Dragged her up a good 10ft and it remained intact. Was so sure it was going to snap. Just a gimmer, so shows how strong they can be.

 

[Jackson4]

good for dragging them if they die? good for getting hold of all my neighbours swaleys which walk out over their walls and eat my grass, sometimes with the full knowledge of my neighbours. I have a few polled dorset lambs with full blown dorset horns (you get a few) strong little rams but easier to catch by the horn ( though you'll get bruised legs and sore wrists)