Age Of Cattle

A cow's horn is supposed to furnish a correct

indication of the age of the animal, but this is not always true. For

ordinary purposes, however, the following will be found approximately

correct: At two years of age a circle of thicker matter begins to form

on the animal's horns, which becomes clearly defined at three years of

age, when another circle begins to form, and an additional circle every

year thereafter. The cow's age then can be determined by adding two to

the number of circles. The rings on a bull's horns do not show

themselves until he is five years old--so in the case of a bull five

must be added to the number of rings. Unless the rings are clear and

distinct these rules will not apply. Besides, dishonest dealers

sometimes file off some of the rings of old cattle.