Texas Longhorn
History books tell us that the ancestors of the Texas Longhorn sailed to America with the Spanish in the days of Christopher Columbus. During the Civil and Indian Wars, the cattle scattered across the prairie – either deliberately left behind or frightened away by flying bullets. They became feral. The harshness of the prairie and the hunting of these ancestors not only strengthened their instincts, but also caused them to develop their long legs, hard hooves and lengthy horns. They were considered the wildest animals of all, harder to hunt than bison or deer, even for the wolf.
The colours and patterns vary more than in any other breed; each calf is a surprise package and they often darken.
Until the end of the Civil War in 1865, Texas Longhorn herds roamed freely throughout Texas. These approximately four million animals were as numerous as the blades of grass on the prairie. There, one animal was worth just four dollars. In the north though, people were paying ten times as much for beef. Thus began the era of the great cattle drives. Huge herds of the cattle were driven from Texas to Kansas. Not only did the cattle survive the long march with ease, they even gained weight in the process. As a result, they brought an economic boom to Texas.
At the beginning of the 20th century, lean meat was no longer in demand. Booming industry meant a high demand for tallow – and therefore animal fat. The Texas Longhorn was heavily cross-bred with other cattle, almost to the point of extinction. In 1927, the Texas Longhorn was placed under protection and seven bloodlines were preserved. In 1964, it became possible to register Texas Longhorns in the USA. To this day, all registered Texas Longhorns can be traced back to one of the seven bloodlines, even those with a Swiss passport.
The Longhorn’s lack of fat, which was once its downfall, is now among its greatest virtues again. The low-cholesterol meat is popular with nutritionists and the health-conscious. It is so flavourful that hardly any seasoning is required.
In addition to a straight back and healthy hooves, all breeders want zany colouring and (of course) horns that are as long as possible. These are measured ‘tip to tip’, i.e. from one horn tip to the other in a straight line. In 1960, a horn span of 75 centimetres was common, while 100 centimetres was exceptional. Today, 130 centimetres is the average, but 180 centimetres or more is the target. The world-record-holding ox Poncho Via from Clay County, Alabama, boasts a whopping 323 centimetres. Like every good police officer, Texas Longhorns are careful with their weapons. They know exactly where their horn tips end – and maybe it is precisely this knowledge that makes them so calm and peaceful. Naturally, there are situations in which the horns are used, for example in hierarchical fighting or in defence of calves. In general though, a Texas Longhorn is no more dangerous than any other horned cow – quite the contrary.
Four-year-old breeding bull Choose a Coke has a horn span of 150 centimetres.
Author and photographer: Susanne Sommer, www.texaslonghorn.love
More info: mutterkuh.ch, www.stla.ch
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