Longhorn question.

[andybob]

As the Longhorn is the closest to a native breed, were there any serious efforts to develop an improved type by selection, or did the introduction of Hereford and Shorthorn cattle pre-empt any initiatives toward this happening?
I am asking out of interest , was there ever a polled strain developed? [wouldn't be called a Longhorn though!]

The hurrier I am, the behinder I get!

 

[Running Arrow Bill]

As the Longhorn is the closest to a native breed, were there any serious efforts to develop an improved type by selection, or did the introduction of Hereford and Shorthorn cattle pre-empt any initiatives toward this happening?
I am asking out of interest , was there ever a polled strain developed? [wouldn't be called a Longhorn though!]

The hurrier I am, the behinder I get!

While the Longhorn has been in the USA for 500 years or so (from early Spanish cattle breeds) unless I'm misinformed, the Longhorn, through natural selection evolved its hybrid vigor as known today.

There are "7 Families" of Longhorns. With the exception of some rare strains, they are all interbred among the 7 Longhorn families. Even the so-called "pure" family known as "Butler" has mixed Longhorn blood in its genetic profile, according to Don Limb who wrote a book on the history of the Butler line.

Any number of Longhorn websites (including our own) has a description of the 7 Families.

Also while a variety of Longhorns are used in commercial cross-breeding, I am under the impression that those offspring are usually marketed as "beef" and not as sires & dams per se.

 

[Rustler9]

The Longhorn breed has evolved from the native stock brought over from Spain some 500 years ago but some historians believe that the breed contains about 20% European blood (Hereford, or Durham etc. brought over by the settlers and either turned loose or escaped and interbred with the Spanish stock) and 80% Spanish stock. Breeders now try to keep the lines as pure as possible. Some lines such as the Peeler or Phillips lines are larger, beefier type animals than some of the other original lines perpetuated by Butler and probably contain some of the later beef blood.

 

[tapeworm]

Theres a guy posts on here sometimes..Ryan maybe?? anyhow hes..got some of the best looking longhorns youll ever see anywhwere. Thick and meaty..pretty nice cattle

 

[Ryan]

Theres a guy posts on here sometimes..Ryan maybe?? anyhow hes..got some of the best looking longhorns youll ever see anywhwere. Thick and meaty..pretty nice cattle

Thanks Tapeworm. We try to breed our cattle to exhibit more meat and thickness, which is desired by the beef cattle industry.


Andybob, Bill and Rustler9 gave you some good info. The first Texas Longhorns to really be bred for improvement were done in the original 7 Families, with some more strict on culling and selection than others, and for different traits. Today's common Texas Longhorn will be a blend of the families. There definantly still some animals that are still all of one family, but they are not the majority. The strongest culling and strictess selection in the history of the Texas Longhorn are being done right now. There are many people leading their herds in many different directions, but the selection criteria and culling are are their highest levels right now. There has never been a polled strain developed, but there are a few composite breeds that were polled.

Hope this helps.

Ryan