Posted on February 1, 2009 - by Russell

Breed Guidelines - Tails & Tail Heads

In this edition of Breed Guidelines we will be looking a tails and the tail heads. The tail should be long and have a full switch. The tail head should be rounded (fish hook) not flat and there should be a bump just in front of the tail head. All this traits help with calving easy of the Longhorn by allowing the pelvic area to open up wider. A short tail and/or a flat tail head are questionable or objectionable traits. A wry tail (crocked tail) and a extremely flat tail head are both undesirable traits. An extremely flat tail head could indicate the influence of Brahman or Watusi blood. Photos left to right Photo 1) Example of a good long tail with full switch, okay tail head. Photo 2) Example of a good fish hook tail head, notice the bump in front of the tail head. Photo 3) Example of a questionable tail head - a little flat. Photo 4)Example of an extremely high tail head, you can see daylight at the curve of the tail even when the tail is not being lifted.  A high tail head falls in the same category as a slightly flat tail head - questionable. Photo 5)Example of an extremely flap undesirable tail head. Photo 6) Example of a broken-down tail head. In females this can be an indicator of non-breeding, because a cow has a heat every 20-21 days, if she is not bred. If she is being repeatedly mounted by other cattle every 21 days and is not being bred then the tail head can be broken when this occurs over extended periods of time.