If you live in a city like Houston, Texas and only visit your ranch on weekends like we do, the
Texas Longhorn was made for you.Of all cattle, the Texas Longhorns do the best job of taking care of themselves when the owner is not around. Cattle are not native to the Americas. They were brought to the new world by European settlers. The original ones came
on Columbus’ second voyage. Some
of the cattle got loose and roamed the wilds of Northern Mexico and Texas for
300 years. They developed into a very self-sufficient and hardy breed with longer
than normal horns. When the cattle were re-domesticated by Texas settlers in the
early 1800’s
they were named Texas Longhorns. The cattle drives of the late 1800’s were
made up of Texas Longhorns and they made famous the unique lifestyle of the
Texas or American Cowboy.Texas Longhorns are known for their ease of calving and 97% of “first calf” heifers deliver healthy calves without the assistance of man at or before their 2nd birthday. This is not true of most other cattle breeds. Many other breeds require assistance, especially cows having their first calf. This necessitates owners to be present during calving season. If you only get to ranch on weekends this unique Texas Longhorn characteristic is very important.
Texas Longhorn mothers are naturally attentive and protective of their calves. Loss to predators is minimal. Many owners of other breeds of cattle run a Texas Longhorn with their herd to help protect the calves from predators.
Raising Texas Longhorn cattle can be
profitable because of the low overhead in maintaining a Texas
Longhorn herd. Texas Longhorn cattle eat a wider range of grasses, plants, and weeds
than do most other cattle. Texas Longhorn owners are able to use pastures that
require less fertilizer and weed killers than owners of other breeds of cattle.
spray weed killer on the property you own, you can understand how
this reduced need for chemicals can add to your bottom line. Fertilizer is also
hard on wildflowers, If you like Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrushes, and
other Texas Wild Flowers you find they grow better in unfertilized pastures.
The Texas Longhorn produces a very lean beef (more meat less fat per ounce).
Studies at major universities have shown that Texas Longhorn beef is
significantly lower in cholesterol than other breeds of beef cattle. A Texas
Longhorn's, who was raised on grass without chemicals or supplements, meat is lower in
cholesterol than a skinless chicken breast. The Texas
Longhorn owner can feel good knowing he is producing a heart healthy product for
consumption. Their Meat is very tasty and a pretty bright red color. 
lease young calves as roping
stock for rodeos or team roping competitions. Prices vary, but the Texas
Longhorn
owner can generally expect a few dollars more from the recreational market than
he would get at the local sale barn. The Roping market is not available to owners of
other cattle breeds because their cattle do not have the horns that the cowboys rope.
The Texas Longhorn will grow horns beyond the end of their ears at 8-10 months,
the perfect length for roping stock.
Correnties (a longhorn cousin from Mexico) take 18 to 24 months to reach the same horn
size. Texas Longhorn owners can sell their roping stock at a younger age leaving
their pastures free for more brood cows. Some Texas Longhorn owners lease cull calves to ropers or
cutters and upon return, sell the larger more mature calves at the local sale barn to
maximize profits. Higher quality Texas Longhorns can always be sold as breeding
stock. Many people utilizing a computer now work from home and soon
realize home can be a ranch in the country. As these folks and other families acquire rural properties to enjoy the Western experience
and historic lifestyles, the
demand for Texas Longhorns increases.
Every year several Texas Longhorns with spectacular sets of long horns sell in the
five figure range. Most were raised by weekend ranchers. (In April 2002 The Texas
Longhorn cow Day's Feisty Fannie sold for $59,000 at public auction. Articles about this
historic event at The Red McCombs Sale
appeared in Texas Monthly and the New York Times ).