08/16/2025
~TEACHABLE TUESDAY~
This mature cow has a very interesting set of horns. Look closely, and you will notice the rings that start at the base of the horn and work their way up, all the way to the tip of the one horn.
While these horns grow continuously throughout the animal's life, faster or slower growth can sometimes cause these rings to appear. Nutrition, health, and even stress can all influence horn development and the formation of the rings.
It is typically accepted that these rings often indicate age. While mouthing (age by looking at tooth growth) is the most accurate way to age bison, the horns can tell a fairly accurate story, especially in the case of mature cows.
This cow appears to be in excellent condition, with a typical coat for an animal in good condition. However, upon looking past her shoulders, there is a hint of ribs and possibly hip bones visible. From this angle, it is difficult to tell, but those minor details, coupled with the horn rings, lead one to believe that this cow is well into her mature years.
And notice that she is flehming, or curling her upper lip, as she smells the humans that are watching her. It's not just bulls that do this; females and even calves will do the same when they encounter something new in their proximity.
