Antlers:
- Composed of bone and cartilage.
- Shed and regrown annually in males of deer, moose, elk, and caribou.
- Used for dominance displays, defense, and sparring with other males during mating season.
- Made of living tissue that is supplied with blood and nerves.
- Cast off when the mating season is over or the antlers are damaged, so the animal can conserve energy.
Horns:
- Composed of keratin, the same protein material as hair and fingernails.
- Not shed annually but grow continuously throughout the animal's life.
- Found in both males and females of cattle, sheep, goats, and antelope.
- Used for defense, protection, and dominance displays, but not for shedding like antlers.
- Horns have no living tissue and, once broken or damaged, do not grow back.