The Texas Longhorn Breed Of Beef Cattle

     Texas Longhorn are beef cattle from the Western United States characterized, among other things, by extremely long horns.  On average, their horns extend about 4 feet tip-to-tip (1.2 meters), and horn spreads of over 6 ½ feet (2 meters) are not uncommon.  Horn shapes vary from almost flat with a slight upward tilt at the tips, to coiled with up to three twists.  Longhorns have an extremely diverse range of coloration, making it difficult, if not impossible, to describe their coloration.

       Although the origin of the Texas Longhorn is uncertain, they are generally considered to be a hybrid cattle breed resulting from the wild crossbreeding of Spanish Retinto (Criollo) cattle and English Bakewell and/or Hereford cattle brought to Texas by Anglo-American frontiersmen starting in the 1820s.

     Texas Longhorns have many characteristics that make them excellent cattle stock.  They are extremely hardy.  They are remarkably resistant to disease.  Longhorns can live off marginal pastures and the hardiest of scrub, including cactus, brush, and weeds.  They can roam for days without water.  Longhorns can stay fit and fertile in environments where other cattle perish, ranging from hot, humid, parasite-infested jungles to the arid mountains, and freezing temperatures of Montana winters.  They are fairly intelligent cattle and have very good survival instincts, finding forage in droughts and shelter in harsh weather.

     Texas Longhorns also have several characteristics that make them popular with ranchers.  Having long legs and hard hoofs, they are ideal trail cattle.  Longhorns have even been known to gain weight during cattle drive.  Longhorns are very long-lived cattle, and the cows stay fertile for a long time—sometimes well into their teens.  Some Longhorn cows have been known to stay fertile for as long as thirty years.  Longhorn cows are also known for their easy birthing.  The cows usually go off on their own to a safe, hidden place to birth their calves, and then bring them back to the herd.  Longhorn calves are very tough, and can stand on their own sooner than other cattle breeds.  On the downside, Longhorn cows are also known to hide their calves in secret places to protect them from predators—which can be an irritation to ranchers who need to bring the calves in for treatments.

     Longhorns are also excellent breeding stock, lending their hardiness, longevity, disease resistance, and easy birthing to their hybrid offspring.  In particular, Longhorns have recently been crossbred with the short-horned Durham and Hereford breeds of beef cattle.

     Longhorns are raised mostly as beef cattle rather than dairy cattle.  Longhorn beef is generally lean, being lower in fat, cholesterol, and calories than other beef breeds.  In the nineteenth century, this was a considered a failing, as high-fat beef was preferred by consumers and fetched a higher price.  In the last half-century, however, the Texas Longhorn beef breed has regained popularity due to a high demand for lean beef among modern, diet-conscious American consumers.  Today, a Texas Longhorn, especially a pure-breed with elite genetics, can sell for up to $40,000 at auction, with the record being $160,000 for a Longhorn cow.