Running Arrow Bill
Well-known member
First of all, I don't want to irritate anyone and fully realize that ALL cattle breeds have advantages and disadvantages depending on one's locale and climate and breeding program. With this in mind, I just wanted to review some of the "benefits" of using Longhorn Cattle for Cross-Breeding:
* Using a Longhorn Bull to Cross-breed to a polled breed will produce a polled calf. And, it is not unusual to view the calf and NOT know that the sire was a Longhorn.
* University research and records of Longhorn cattle people have documented that Longhorns have up to 99.7% UNASSISTED calving rates. In this respect, a LIVE Longhorn calf is worth a lot more than a DEAD other breed---if nothing else, you can eat the live one.
* Even though a Longhorn (with horns present) will often get docked at Sale Barns (especially if it is not Black or Red), selling a LIVE animal is more profitable that having or pulling a dead calf from another breed.
* Longhorns typically produce 45 th 65 lb calves: This is ESPECIALLY valid for 1st calf heifers that were bred in the 650 to 800 lb range.
* Longhorn heifers can be bred successfully at 12 to 14 months of age without any significant risk of calving problems due to their unique hip bone structure.
* Longhorn bulls can easily be very productive and possess strong Libido up until 10, 12, 14 years of age and longer.
* Longhorn cows can easily be productive with a calf every 12 months even up to 16, 18, or 20 years of age. This means fewer replacement heifers and cows needed.
* Longhorns typically grow on about 20% less forage and feed than other breeds. This more than offsets any possible losses at Sale Barns.
* Current breeders of Longhorn cattle are emphasizing Body Condition Scores in the 5 to 6 range and mature cows weighing in the 1000 to 1200 lb range. Bulls are ranging between about 1,400 and 2,000 on the average.
* Longhorns display their unique "Hooks and Pins" bone structure on their hindquarters. This trait is deceiving to some commercial cattle people -- this does NOT mean they are out of condition -- it is a trait that produces easy calving due to their pelvic action at calving.
* Longhorns have naturally lean beef. If they are finished on quality forage (as all cattle should be) along with feed supplements as needed, they have marbling (but not as fatty obviously as other slaughter breeds).
* Longhorns have excellent disease resistance, browse ability, hardy nature, and a very long productive life (among other traits).
Just wanted to review some of the "Facts" about Longhorns. Everyone has their own program and preferences. Even if you do not "buy into" the Longhorn concept, these are still things to think about....
* Using a Longhorn Bull to Cross-breed to a polled breed will produce a polled calf. And, it is not unusual to view the calf and NOT know that the sire was a Longhorn.
* University research and records of Longhorn cattle people have documented that Longhorns have up to 99.7% UNASSISTED calving rates. In this respect, a LIVE Longhorn calf is worth a lot more than a DEAD other breed---if nothing else, you can eat the live one.
* Even though a Longhorn (with horns present) will often get docked at Sale Barns (especially if it is not Black or Red), selling a LIVE animal is more profitable that having or pulling a dead calf from another breed.
* Longhorns typically produce 45 th 65 lb calves: This is ESPECIALLY valid for 1st calf heifers that were bred in the 650 to 800 lb range.
* Longhorn heifers can be bred successfully at 12 to 14 months of age without any significant risk of calving problems due to their unique hip bone structure.
* Longhorn bulls can easily be very productive and possess strong Libido up until 10, 12, 14 years of age and longer.
* Longhorn cows can easily be productive with a calf every 12 months even up to 16, 18, or 20 years of age. This means fewer replacement heifers and cows needed.
* Longhorns typically grow on about 20% less forage and feed than other breeds. This more than offsets any possible losses at Sale Barns.
* Current breeders of Longhorn cattle are emphasizing Body Condition Scores in the 5 to 6 range and mature cows weighing in the 1000 to 1200 lb range. Bulls are ranging between about 1,400 and 2,000 on the average.
* Longhorns display their unique "Hooks and Pins" bone structure on their hindquarters. This trait is deceiving to some commercial cattle people -- this does NOT mean they are out of condition -- it is a trait that produces easy calving due to their pelvic action at calving.
* Longhorns have naturally lean beef. If they are finished on quality forage (as all cattle should be) along with feed supplements as needed, they have marbling (but not as fatty obviously as other slaughter breeds).
* Longhorns have excellent disease resistance, browse ability, hardy nature, and a very long productive life (among other traits).
Just wanted to review some of the "Facts" about Longhorns. Everyone has their own program and preferences. Even if you do not "buy into" the Longhorn concept, these are still things to think about....