The results are in, see what readers prefer in the poll vs horn debate

A Queensland Country Life reader poll has revealed producers have a strong preference when it comes to the horned genetics debate.

The online poll found 63 per cent of respondents preferred poll bulls compared to 37pc favouring dehorned.

One producer said not having to dehorn put less stress on their animals and made management easier when it came to branding.

On the opposite side of the fence, one respondent said horned bulls were generally cheaper and typically had better control of their prepuce and fewer issues with corkscrewing compared to PP bulls.

They went on to say that single trait selection for poll had greatly impacted the conformation of Bos indicus infused breeds.

Others, however, pointed out there were no dehorning deaths for calves with polls, while another said "dehorning was barbaric".

In favour of horned cattle, one producer suggested people "look (at) what happened to Herefords chasing poll, cattle went backward" while quite a few respondents believed horned bulls had more thickness, bone, structural correctness and weight for age.

"You don't get paid a premium for poll cattle at the works, so why pay a premium when there's no premium from the end user?" one producer said.

To this argument came a comment that horned cattle could be phased out and still retain quality.

"The Shorthorn breed successfully transitioned decades ago, and increasingly premiums are being paid for PP Santa Gertrudis bulls. The leading breed, Angus, is all poll. Don't underestimate the influence of animal liberationists on city-centric governments - dehorning could be the next mulesing in terms of activism," the producer added.

Having a bet each way, another producer said that while the market preferred polled cattle, they still bought horned and scurred bulls some years to keep size and bone.

To see how poll bulls fare against horned animals, the Kirk family of Carinya Brahmans, Gayndah and the Bishop family of Garglen Brahmans, Moura, recently compared their own sale draft.

Looking at all 92 bulls - 59 horned and 33 poll - in their 2025 Carinya Garglen Bull Sale, the results showed poll bulls were slightly better against their horned counterparts on all selection criteria.

Sandra Bishop said the data proved polls could be as good as horned bulls.

"We have worked hard on making our polls as good as our horneds," she said.

At the Rockhampton Brahman Week Sale last week, horned bulls only averaged $806 less than heterozygous polled bulls.

Last month, a horned bull outshone the polls at the 2025 National Charbray Sale to get the top money of $32,500 for Trevor and Lolita Ford, Wattlebray Charbrays, Chinchilla

After the sale, Mr Ford said the top price for a horned bull proved to him that good dehorned cattle would still sell well, and should not be discounted or discredited.

Shane Bishop agreed, adding that a horned bull should not be discounted, but neither should the polls.

"You can buy both poll and horn bulls without giving away key traits," he said.

Mrs Bishop said they had conversations with their counterparts in northern Australia, and they wanted to go polled, but they knew they'd probably lose some weight for age.

"But, if we can get to supplying them bulls where they're not going to do that, that's the ideal situation for all of us," she said.