» Texas Longhorns

The History of the Texas Longhorn

In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought Spanish cattle to Santa Domingo. By the late 1600’s, the descendents of the Columbus’ cattle migrated into present day Texas. In 1690, the first herd of cattle, only about 200 head, were driven northward from Mexico to a mission near the Sabine River in Southeast Texas. Most of the Spanish or “Mexican” cattle were unbranded, survivors of Indian raids, scattered by stampedes and weather, escaped from missions or abandoned after ranch failures. Although "Mexican" cattle of the long horned variety provided the basic strain of the Texas Longhorn, historian J. Frank Dobie documented that an infiltration of cattle of mongrel American blood, contributed to the evolution of the Texas Longhorn. Dobie estimated the Texas Longhorn evolved as 80 % Spanish influence and 20% mongrel influence, probably in part from the Longhorn Herefords of England.

Texas, and what was then Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase became the major blending pot for the evolution of the history-making Texas Longhorn breed of cattle. The Texas Longhorn has been defined and refined by Mother nature, tested by the crucible of time and the elements. As a survivor of Mother Nature’s harsh realities, Longhorns carried the ideal characteristics of resistance. Through the mid-1800s, these range-rugged, big horned cattle multiplied without the help of man. Traits were genetically fixed, and as a result of survival of the fittest, resulted in ecologically adapted bovine families with extremely good heath, fertility, teeth, disease resistance, and soundness of body and limb. By the time of the Civil War, millions of Longhorns ranged between the mesquite-dotted sandy banks of the Rio Bravo to the sandbeds of the Sabine.

The survivors of the Civil War returned home to Texas to find abandoned ranches, unplowed farm fields—and herds of wild cattle, which would soon become gold in their pockets. In the next quarter century, 10 million head were trailed North to fatten on lush Midwestern grasses or shipped directly by rail to the beef-hungry East.

By 1920, much open range was fenced, and southwestern cattle barons zeroed in on their favorite breeds of fat cattle. In 1927, the Texas Longhorn almost became extinct with only thirty known animals alive. In 1927, with fewer than one-hundred Longhorns remaining, the US government took steps to keep the Longhorn legacy alive with the formation of the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma. Several early modern producers were instrumental in providing Longhorn genetics when the United States Government realized the near extinction of these creatures. Six unique strains were selectively perpetuated by private ranch families before 1931The government herd, established in 1927 at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Cache, Oklahoma, was to become the seventh of the preserved Texas Longhorn families.

The Texas Longhorn made more history than any other breed of cattle the civilized world has known. As an animal in the realm of natural history, he was peer of bison and grizzly bear. As a social factor, his influence on men was extraordinary. An economic agent in determining the character and occupation of a territory continental in its vastness, he moved elementally with drought, grass, blizzards out of the Arctic and the burning winds from the south."

- The Longhorn, J. Frank Dobie 1940

The Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America and International Texas Longhorn Assn both serve as the recognized registry for the breed.