Several early producers were instrumental in providing Longhorn genetics when the U.S. The historic Texas Longhorn was the time-tested choice of only a few serious cowmen. It is no wonder that the naturally lean Longhorn, with 08 percent less renderable tallow than English breeds, was not in demand.īy 1930, most open range was fenced and southwestern cattle barons zeroed in on the favorite breeds of “fat” cattle. The demand for tallow and hides was the driving force of the cattle business and genetics were selected for the heaviest tallow-producing animals. Prior to the advent of refrigeration, meat was essentially by-product. Soaps, lubricants and cooking also requires tallow “Hide-and-tallow” companies, as early beef processing plants were known, were major industry 1n the early days of the industrial revolution. Tallow, the main ingredients candles, obtained by rendering animal fat. Another factor in the Longhorn near-C disappearance was the breed’s unique natural lean meat.Ĭandles had been the world’s chief source of light for over 2,000 years. Because of the excellent growth and vitality resulting from the hybrid vigor (heterosis) of the Longhorn-cross, this breeding process became so popular that pure Texas Longhorn blood was nearly eliminated. The foundation stock of purebreds in this country were “bred up” from a native Longhorn base. In the early twentieth century, purebred cattle breeds from Europe and Asia became available to fill the desires of consumers. cattle population at 60,000.000 most of which contained a percentage of Texas Longhorn blood. Department of Agriculture estimated the U.S. these cattle were estimated to have multiplied to 40,000 head including additional importations. In 1876, an estimated 1,000 head breeding herd was introduced into southern Alberta. From this clash between men, animals and the environment grew the world-famous legends of the American cowboy. Longhorns could walk amazing distances, living off the land, protecting themselves, swimming rivers, surviving desert heat and winter snow. By 1889 an estimated 10,000,000 head of Longhorns had been trailed was North, West and East out of Texas Converting wild cattle into gold were well suited the ultimate struggle one to which the “Texas cattle” were well suited. These wild, nature developed cattle provided cash for their captors. official estimates placed the Texas Longhorn population between 3,000 000 and 4,000,000 head. Traits were genetically “fixed” as result of survival of the fittest, resulting in ecologically adapted bovine families with extremely good health, fertility teeth, disease resistance, and soundness of body and limb. Until the mid-1800″ these big horned, rugged cattle multiplied without the help of man. Their spectacular color variations reflected the three types of cattle originally introduced from Spain the predominately red “Retinta” and the white and black breeds of Andalusian cattle. then refined by nature, tested by the crucible of time and the elements Hard hooves and lethal horns equipped them for survival. And, over the centuries, those with the ability to survive multiplied from isolated bands to literally millions! Thus was created the Texas Longhorn, imported North America by Spanish explorers. Of those first cattle loosed on the shores of the Americas, a few strayed or were abandoned. Christopher Columbus landed long-horned Spanish cattle in January of 1494 Descendants of these ocean voyagers were the first cattle populate North America. Why is America’s oldest cattle breed attracting so much interest? The answer is revealed, in part, in the fascinating history of these genetically unique cattle.
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