Running Arrow Bill
Well-known member
SCRUBS620":zpaf84zg said:A question to the Longhorn people.
What is the end justification other than breeding stock for extra large horns? Is there an end market after the animal is slaughtered to justify the extra cost? What happens when no one else needs breeding stock? It seems like a never ending loop to me. Bigger horns so that they will sell for a better price, the better price justifies growing bigger horns and so on. There does not seem to be enough consumption (horns or beef) to justify the increasing price of breeding stock. Do the shows pay that well to make it worth while or is that just another way to sell breeding stock? I dont have anything against Longhorns. I have never been around them but I applaud the people who are keeping this heritage breed alive. I am just worried that it will all come crashing down like the llamma and ostrich business did. It was very hard to sell enough meat or eggs from an ostrich to pay for a $20,000 pair of breeding stock. Like I said I have not been around this business so please dont take offense to my comments (or being likened to bird farmers - sorry) if I am wrong about it. I would appreciate having someone explain it to me.
Can't answer all your questions..lol. However,
I don't think the Longhorn breed will ever end up like the Ostrich and Emu scam. Longhorns have been around in USA as "producing animals" for 500 years or so. While their price varies a lot with type, condition, genetics, body, horn, etc., they still command good prices via private treaty or other quality outlets. IMO the "Huge" horn length is a type of "fad" that realistically has a practical limit...just HOW long can a horn grow via selective breeding; and, when they get to a certain point does a producer have to have a "wide load" permit to transport them...lol.
Seriously though, I think there is a very practical limit to horns--"law of diminishing returns??".
Very colorful hides command a high price: Usually between about $750 and $1500 after tanned. Head/Horn mounts can have similar prices for taxidermist mounted units. Other "parts" of longhorns are sold as novelty items.
The "high dollar" longhorns (over $10,000) have limited buyers due to costs (e.g., $50K to $150K prices at auctions). Some of these expensive longhorns are often bought by "one-upmanship" buyers who speculate and/or like to brag about how much they paid for X longhorn. Am sure all the breeds have those expensive animals for one reason or another.
All in all, "our" longhorns often command several times the sale barn prices; and, 99% of ours are sold privately. Some 75% of our sales are the result of our website which depicts our animals and the quality and management of our facility.
Don't know if this info helps or not. ;-)
